Retired primary school teachers in Delta State, on Thursday, stormed the Government House, Asaba, to protest over the non-payment of severance package running into N54b by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration.
The angry retirees blocked the Government House’s entrance gate to prevent any entry and exit while chanting solidarity and anti-Okowa songs to drive home their demands.
The protest featured teachers who retired after 35 years of meritorious service to the state and were yet to be paid their several years of gratuities.
Okowa, who is currently in Osun State attending a PDP governorship election campaign was lambasted by the retirees for his nonchalant attitude towards the welfare of the Delta people, civil servants, and especially retired workers.
The protest which lasted for several hours led to a gridlock along Anwai Road, Asaba as the retirees sat on the road demanding to see the governor face-to-face to explain why he refused to pay their gratuities.
The protesting retired teachers numbering over 3000, looked pale, while carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “Okowa pay our money, Okowa, pay our money, Okowa”, “Okowa, which is important, your VP ambition or our gratuities.”
“Okowa, wickedness does not pay.”, “Okowa you have less than eight months to go, please pay us our gratuities.”, “Your wickedness has reached God and you will never get that VP come 2023.” among others.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, Mrs C.E. Ejieh pleaded with the state government to declare a state of emergency in the public primary schools’ retirees gratuities’ payment and also to ensure that the over N5.9billion owed by some local councils in the state are duly remitted to the Bureau of Local Government that is in charge of the payment.
The leader of the protesting retirees, however, lamented that “In spite of repeated promises made during meetings with a delegation of the state government, Governor Okowa bluntly refused to honour his words and has left the retirees in the cold, choosing to pursue a vice presidential ambition.
“In the face of public outcry to the governor to demonstrate a humane sense of leadership on the matter, nothing tangible has been done even when it was clear that the resources to reduce the burden of debt owed the retirees were available to the state government.”
According to report, as soon as the news of the protest by the retirees got to the governor in Osun State, he called his Chief of Staff, Festus Ovie Agas, on the phone and directed him to address the protesting retirees.
Agas pleaded with the retirees for time with a promise to attend to their demands by way of payment.
It would be recalled that the retired teachers had a few months ago staged a similar protest to demand their gratuities but with all promises made during that protest, nothing was done.
