By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
It was a pitiable sight to behold as frail-looking, tired and hungry retirees of Kaduna State government on Tuesday, March 11, took to the streets of Kaduna, the state capital, to peacefully protest the non-payment for eight years of their gratuities and pensions.
They headed towards Government House, the seat of power, to register their grievances.
Several onlookers shook their heads in dismay as the weak senior citizens protested over the non-payment of what should be a routine fiscal responsibility matter by government.
Some of the onlookers visibly cursed the government for inflicting this cadre of the citizenry with hardship at this precarious stage of their lives.
The protesters carried placards with several inscriptions, some of which read “We reject 25%, we want our full gratuities and Pensions”, “Is it a crime to serve our dear state Kaduna?”, “Please pay us our Pension and gratuity”.
The retirees gave the administration of Governor Uba Sani two weeks to pay their accumulated gratuities and pensions or face the consequences.
The state branch of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) lamented the precarious situation of the retirees, disclosing that several of them had died while most of those alive were suffering after retirement.
The union called on Gov. Sani to do the needful to save them further pains and loss of lives.
The call was made by the Chairman, state chapter of NUP, Professor Danjuma Net during the protest.
He flayed apparent official nonchalance over the growing plight of pensioners in the state.
Professor Net said: “We are giving two weeks. If there’s no progress -we are talking of positive progress. And what I mean is, our people are dying in droves, and don’t have the money to pay our hospital bills. Many of us are homeless.
”That’s why when he (governor) came and saw one of us who was running mental and offered to help by paying him; so must all of us be mentally sick before they pay us?
”I’m speaking to you honestly, honestly, not only as a Professor, but as a Bishop; if in the next two weeks nothing is done, I am bringing my bed to sleep here.”
Speaking on behalf of the Governor, while commending the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully, the State Commissioner of Police (CP), Rabiu Muhammed appealed to the pensioners for patience, promising to convey their letter and demands to Gov. Sani.
According to him, the governor will give ear to their plight.
”And we have agreed and we promised that we are going to channel these complaints to His Excellency Governor Uba Sani and we pray he’s going to look into your problems. So let’s give him time to look into these problems so that all us can benefit.
”So we thank every one for being here and for being peaceful. And we promise that we are going to submit your letter to His Excellency, and we pray that he will do something about it, and he promised that he will do something about it,” the CP said.
