Delta State retirees have staged a protest against the unpaid entitlements, leading to the disruption of an empowerment programme organised by the state government.
The retirees from primary schools and local government councils who demonstrated on Thursday, were dressed in black attire. They barricaded the entrance to the event centre along Okpanam Road Asaba, chanting and singing anti-Governor Ifeanyi Okowa songs.
The protesters were armed with placards with different inscriptions such as”Okowa, pay us our pensions and gratuities now,” “Okowa, stop killing the retirees. Retirees are suffering and dying daily,” “Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, pay us our gratuities and pension from 2014 till date. 35 years of service is not a joke, pay us now,” “Okowa, the blood of the dead retirees are on your head.”
They described the state governor as a ‘heartless and wicked’ man who does not care about the lives of retirees in the state.
One of the retirees, who identified himself as Alhaji Ismaila Isitua, who spoke with Journalists, lamented that “For good 35 years, we served the state and retired without any blemish now what is due to us, the state government said we won’t get our entitlements, is that not wickedness. Since 2014 till date, we have not been paid our pensions and gratuities.
“Our colleagues are dying every day. We are retired primary school teachers and local government council workers. This is heartless and wickedness of the highest order.”
The protesters had vowed to continue with their protest until their demands were met. Several Hilux vehicles loaded with armed men of the Nigeria police from the state police command Asaba were seen around the environment.
