Bayelsa Retirees Protest Eight Years Outstanding Pension Arrears

Some retirees in Bayelsa State under the aegis of Bayelsa State Pensioners Association (BPA), yesterday, appealed to the state Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, to pay their eight years outstanding pension arrears.
The group also called on government to as a matter of urgency pay off the backlog of this money.
The retirees numbering about two hundred decried the impoverished condition of senior citizens in the state.
They also lamented that for the last eight years, Dickson was able to pay only N2.1billion out of N3.5billion, being part of the outstanding pension arrears his predecessor, Chief Timipre Sylva, owed them before leaving office.
Speaking at a press conference in Yenagoa, the President of the association, Alabo G. Bodi-Amaran, appealed to the state government to float a pool of revolving nonprofit fund from where pensioners can receive money for small scale business start up for those who are willing to do so after retirement.
According to Bodi-Amaran, retirees in the state have also resolved to support only a candidate in the forthcoming November 16 governorship election who is willing to be committed to paying their arrears.
Explaining further, Bodi-Amaran called on pensioners in the state to be calm and wait for further directive on who to vote as Dickson’s successor, saying they should remain non-partisan and be opened to wide consultation.
He said, “one of the sad realities pensioners have been subjected to for almost eight years, is the non-payment of gratuity, being a welfare package rightly paid every retiree to meet the numerous socioeconomic obligations after meritorious service.
“It is obvious that government’s refusal to pay gratuity is a deliberate attempt to impoverish senior citizens whose crime is clearly that we diligently served the state.
“Let it be on record that we have heard endless promises on these issues but unfortunately, promises have never put food on our tables, nor paid our rents, children’s fees, nor any other responsibilities. We therefore demand payment of the arrears without further delay.
“It is common knowledge that what we receive as monthly take-home does not take us home in the actually sense, it rather takes us into indebtedness, resulting in misery and pain. In spite of this, without due consultations, government is unilaterally and arbitrarily deducting our monthly pay for the Bayelsa State Health Insurance Scheme and the State Education Trust Fund.