PENSIONERS in Osun State on Friday, June 30, stormed the state Secretariat and locked put workers in continuation of their protest to press home demand for payment of their pension arrears and gratuities.

The pensioners started the fresh protest on Thursday, June 29 and continued early Friday morning before workers could get to the office.

The protesters locked the main gate as well as the second gate thereby preventing workers from going inside.

According to witnesses the pensioners chanted war song, while some of them blocked the gates and others lined up with placards beside the main road, calling the governor various abusive names.

Although security men and women were deployed in the area to maintain peace and order, protesters vowed not to go away or allow workers to get in.

Yemi Lawal, one of the leaders of the pensioners, told reporters that the state owed them as much as 12-month pensions and the gratuities of those who retired between 2008/and 2012 were yet to be paid.

Lawal accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of planning to divert the second tranche of N12,7 billion Paris Club loan refund other things rather than paying them and state workers.

As at press time, no official reaction had been issued.

—  Jul 10, 2017 @ 01:00 GMT