Pensioners in Ogun state blocked the two entry points into the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta in the early hours of Thursday, making it difficult for government workers to gain entry.
The pensioners, who had planned a peaceful protest to demand for the payment of pension arrears and other sundry were aggrieved by a security personnel who deny them entry into the secretariat, which prompted the total blockage of the gate by the pensioners.
Speaking with newsmen, the Local Government pensioners Association Chairman, Chief Sikiru Ayilara maintained that the pensioners have utilised all the necessary mechanisms in conveying their grievances to the state government without any favourable response.
“After having exhausted all efforts without any fruitful results, we resolved to stage this peaceful protest rally today.
“I must tell you now that the Commandant of the 35th Artillery Brigade, Alamala knows about this our protest, the Commissioner of Police is aware, the Commandant Civil Defence even the DSS Knows about it.
“We have also written all the four Paramount Rulers in the State. All of them are aware of our protest of today.
The chairman however stated that the pensioners are demanding that the state government reschedule the payment of Local Government pensioners ten years outstanding gratuities to be duly paid within 24 months and not 34 years of agreement reached with the organised labour without the pensioners knowledge, adding that the association reject the payment of 68Billion ten years outstanding gratuities at Five Hundred Million (500,000,000) quarterly for 34 years.
Their demand further reads, “immediate implementation of the provisions of the circular on 33.4% increase in pension issued in 2014 which other neighboring states had long paid.
