Hundreds of pensioners under the umbrella of the Concerned Pensioners Association of Benue State staged a peaceful protest in Makurdi on Wednesday, demanding the payment of outstanding gratuities, pension arrears, and the harmonisation of pensions.
The protesters warned that they would occupy the Benue State Government House if their demands continue to be ignored by the state government.
Many of the retirees arrived at the protest carrying sleeping mats and placards bearing messages such as “Pay us our pension, our members are dying,” reflecting growing frustration over what they described as years of neglect.
Speaking to journalists during the demonstration, the association’s chairman, Akosu Orban, accused the administration of Hyacinth Alia of failing to fulfil promises made to pensioners before and after the 2023 elections.
According to Orban, pensioners are owed gratuities dating back to the year 2000, while retired state government workers and local government pensioners are owed 38 months and 62 months of pension arrears respectively.
“We have exhausted all avenues for dialogue and resolution with the Benue State Government over our demands without success. That is why we have decided to embark on this peaceful protest,” he said.
The association also criticised the government’s handling of pension harmonisation, alleging that some retirees still receive as little as ₦2,000 monthly despite constitutional provisions and approved pension benchmarks.
“It may interest you to know that some pensioners who retired many years ago are still being paid ₦2,000 monthly pension. If pensions were properly harmonised, they should be receiving up to ₦40,000 per month,” Orban stated.
He expressed concern over the welfare of retirees, claiming that many pensioners are unable to afford medication and proper nutrition due to their financial situation.
“Pensioners are dying on a daily basis because they cannot afford drugs and special diets required for age-related ailments. We have become scavengers, beggars and destitute in the land we served diligently,” he lamented.
The protesters recalled campaign promises allegedly made by Governor Alia to clear outstanding pension arrears and gratuities within 100 days of assuming office.
According to Orban, pensioners were persuaded to withdraw legal actions against the government after receiving assurances that outstanding payments would be settled on a first-retired, first-paid basis.
“Pensioners were happy and withdrew most of their cases from court against government, only to discover that they were tactically cajoled. Nothing has been done till date,” he alleged.
The chairman also disclosed that some pensioners regretted contributing funds toward the governor’s Expression of Interest and Nomination Form for the 2027 governorship election.
Warning of further action, the protesters vowed to escalate their campaign if their grievances remain unresolved.
“We are hungry and angry. If our concerns are not addressed, we will have no option than to occupy the Benue State Government House until justice is done to pensioners,” Orban declared.
Responding to the allegations, the Benue State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba, said the current administration inherited pension and gratuity liabilities estimated at about ₦300 billion.
He described the backlog as one of the largest inherited obligations facing the state government and maintained that efforts are ongoing to address the challenge within available financial resources.
“That is what we inherited, but we are doing our very best to pay what we can. They have the right to demonstrate, but government, in its wisdom, is doing its best,” Oglegba said.
The commissioner further stated that the government has fully paid gratuities for workers who retired since the administration assumed office in 2023 and has also begun addressing older outstanding liabilities.
“Since we came into office in 2023 till date, this government has paid 100 percent of the gratuities of everybody who left service during this administration. We are also paying the backlog, but the money is not there to pay everything at once,” he added.
