Members of the Local Government Pensioners and Retired Primary School Teachers in Ogun state have declared a three -day fasting and prayer against the Governor Dapo Abiodun for refusing to pay their gratuities.
They promised to embark on full scale protest if the government refuses to accede to their request.
The pensioners under the Local Government Pensioners Association, said the protest will take them to the governor’s office with their mats and sleeping dresses and wouldn’t leave until their gratuities are paid.
The state Chairman of LOGPAN, Sikiru Ayilara,who revealed these at a press briefing held in Abeokuta,Ogun state, lamented that his members are hurt by the alleged non-challant attitude of the governor to their demands which include non-payment of gratuities, lateness and non-increment in the monthly pensions and discrimination against the members by the government among others.
He said the N500 million quarterly allocation for gratuities by the governor was unacceptable as such arrangement will take 34 years before clearing the backlogs.
He also lamented the payment of N5,000 as pension to the members, saying the amount was insufficient.
Ayilara said the association has called for the review in pension in consonance with the provision of section 210(3) of the 1999 constitution of the country as amended.
He said:”After this meeting we are taking our decision today. If we resolve to get out tomorrow, we will _ tomorrow. But tomorrow may be very short because before we stage it, we are subjecting ourselves to three days fasting and prayer so that we shall call God to be on our side.
“We are not going to curse, but, every pronouncement, every covenant of God on anybody that is oppressing the poor, the needy, the widows, the aged, the orphans, that all those pronouncement will be on anybody contributing to our oppression.
“Today, we are going to start the fasting, on our conclusion today, immediately after the fasting, we are going out. All these celebrations ; Children Day, National Day, his assumption of office day, we are not concerned about all these. We have no concern. Nothing concerns us, when you keep oppressing us, oppressing the state.”
On the efforts made to get Abiodun’s attention, Ayilara said, “We have written 12 letters now, the 10th one was given to him at the arcade (ground) on the Independence day, he did not turn his attention.
“We are not going to give him any notice again. He will see us, with our mats, sleeping clothes, we will go to his office, let him kill us there. After all many of us are dying now very silently.”
On the ordeals of the members, Ayilara said, “Let me tell you, there is one senior colleague in the Local government, after the payment of last month pension, he was released from the hospital. He was detained there.Go to Ifo, within last month we have buried four. That’s how it is. When they don’t have money to eat. When they don’t have money to buy drugs, and all their expectations on the meager salaries. They have been frustrated.”
The Special Adviser to the governor on Public Communication, Remmy Hassan faulted the claim on the letters written without response.
He assured that the government would continue to engage the pensioners and ensure that the backlogs are cleared on time.
He said the economic reality necessitated the decision by the government to be paying N500m quarterly to clear the backlogs.
On the planned protest, Hassan said, “We will continue to engage them, we are desirous of clearing the debts, we are not happy that they are not paid their entitlements.
“They have worked for it, but, the economic reality may not support it . At the time we are agreeing on the payment of N500m, that as the economic reality .We are willing to engage them once we get the communication on the press conference.”
