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| Retirees |
Retirees under the Edo State Contributory Pension Scheme on Tuesday protested at the Edo State House of Assembly, demanding that the government withdraw them from the scheme over alleged poor monthly pension payments.
The pensioners said some of their members receive between N7,000 and N10,000 monthly despite spending decades in the state civil service.
The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, including “CPS is failing Edo workers and pensioners” and “Mr Governor, save our soul,” appealed to the state government to urgently review their pension arrangement.
Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of the group, Andrew Asemota, said he currently receives N45,000 monthly after serving the state for 35 years, while some retirees receive far less.
“We are retirees from the Edo State Civil Service under the state’s Contributory Pension Scheme. Today, as a pensioner, I am receiving N45,000 as pension after working for 35 years,” Asemota said.
He explained that many of the affected retirees joined the civil service under the former Bendel State and had already spent between 28 and 29 years in service when the state introduced the contributory pension scheme in 2017.
Asemota appealed to the lawmakers to intervene with Governor Monday Okpebholo, whom he described as a listening governor, to address what the pensioners considered an injustice.
“We are here to seek your assistance and help us talk to the state governor to come to our aid because he is a listening governor who has come to right the wrongs of the past,” he said.
Receiving the protesters, the Speaker of the House, Yekini Idaiye, assured them that their grievances would be conveyed to the governor for necessary action.
Idaiye also urged the pensioners to remain peaceful and law-abiding while pursuing their demands, promising that the House would engage with the relevant authorities on the matter.
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