Benue Governor Ortom is in dare straits
A pressure group, Benue Renaissance Network (BRN) has asked the state governor, Samuel Ortom to pay up 48 months pensions owed to retirees or face a mass action in the Presidency and the National Assembly to intervene on the plight of Benue State pensioners.
The group in a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Detimbir Aondoaver explained that the action has become necessary in view of the pitiable condition of the senior citizens who sacrificed their youthful life for the state but are now allowed to suffer untold hardship at a time most of them are weak and frail.
It alleged that non-payment of pensions has casused several deaths in the past years of the Governor Ortom administration much more than the deaths caused by COVID-19 and other known ailments in the state.
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THE PLIGHT OF PENSIONERS IN BENUE STATE: THE NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT AND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO INTERVENE
It is with a very heavy heart that we members of the Benue Renaissance Network (BRN) over the pitiable and worrisome plight of our parents who have meritoriously served the state and have become pensioners.
It is on record that the Benue state government owns pensioners several months of unpaid pensions. Some are owed 17 to 25 months, while others at the Local Government Councils are owed 48 months.
Suffice to say that the refusal of the state government to pay pensioners has worsened the living conditions of these old persons most of whom still have responsibility of catering for families. These senior citizens of the state cannot fend for the feeding, school fees, health care and other responsibilities of the family.
“This situation has recorded several deaths in the past years of the Governor Ortom much more than the deaths caused by COVID-19 and other known ailments in the state”, the group added.
The pensioners last year slept at the gates of the government house for two weeks under the scorching sun in the midst of dangerous reptiles to press home their plight just to get empty promises from the governor which have not amounted to anything. While at the gate to register their anger, thugs believed to be loyal to Governor Samuel Ortom stormed the venue and beat them up.
We are tired of watching our parents die because of the inability of Governor Samuel Ortom to pay them their legitimate pensions. We therefore give the state government fourteen (14) days to clear all pension arrears accrued to pensioners in the state of face series of protests at the Aso Villa and National Assembly. Make no mistakes, no one will blackmail this group or stop us from embarking on these protests.
While we sustain our protests on the streets of Abuja, we will submit strong worded letters of protest over this to the leadership of the National Assembly and to the governors’ forum.
These pensioners did not commit any crime by serving the state meritoriously. It is inhuman for any chief executive to deliberate punish them by withholding their pensions the way Governor Samuel Ortom has done.
Enough is enough!!!
Thank you.
Comrade Detimbir Aondoaver
Convener
Benue Renaissance Network
