Members of the Association of Concerned Benue Pensioners have begged Rt. Hon. Titus Uba, candidate for governor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to intervene on their behalf because they are losing their wives to motorcycle riders (Okada) because they are unable to care for them.
On September 21, 2022, a group of protesters marched to Makurdi’s assembly complex while carrying various placards with various messages.
The pensioners were initially refused entry on the grounds that the Speaker was not present, but after standing their ground, they were given permission to meet with assembly management.
Presenting their grievances contained in a letter, they said, “This is for your information and necessary action. It is no longer news that the Government of Benue State is owning her pensioners 37 and 74 months pension arrears at the State and Local Government Levels respectively. Our backlog of gratuity remains a no go area and is totally forgotten,”
“As a result of non-payment of pension and gratuity, pensioners are dying on a daily bases as most of them are on special diet and drugs but could not afford even a maintenance ration or drugs.
“This has caused untold hardship to pensioners, including the inability to afford decent food, Housing, payment of hospital bills as well as inability to pay children’s school fees leading to their being sent out of school by the school authorities, thereby frustrating their future.
“The concerned Benue State Pensioners have become scavengers, Refugees destitute and beggars on our fatherland that we served with zeal and meritocracies, if we do not beg, we will not eat.
“Because of hardship occasioned by non-payment of Pension and gratuity, we have lost our wives to Okada Boys, ‘because we are no longer economically viable to carter for them. Life has become miserable, meaningless and unbearable.” they added.
