Local government pensioners in Akwa Ibom State on Monday protested the non-payment of their over five years gratuity by the state government.
The pensioners, who marched along Wellington Bassey Road, near Government House, Uyo, appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel to approve the release of payment of their gratuity, outstanding since 2012.
State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Mr Effanga Ettah, decried the attitude of the state government to their plight.
He said that some pensioners in the 31 local government areas of the state had not received their gratuity, which he said had caused untold hardship to the elder citizens.
He said that pensioners in the local governments had also not received their monthly pension since March this year.
“Local government pensioners stay months before their monthly pension is paid. This is due to the poor funding by the Pension Board.
“We believe that the state governor in his good gesture will approve the payment for the arrears, “Ettah said.
Mr Victor Attai, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who spoke, said that Federation Account was not enough to pay workers and pensioners’ monthly entitlements.
He said that government was not unaware of their plight, especially those in the local government area, and appealed to them to bear with the government.
