Pensioners in Benue State on Friday vowed to embark on a protest across the state, if the state government fails to pay their pensions and gratuities by Wednesday.
The pensioners, in a statement signed and issued by their leaders, Peter Ikyado and James Mac-Mtsor, accused the Benue State Government of using divide-and- rule tactics to create division amongst them.
The statement titled, ‘Notification to embark on an indefinite peaceful protest’ noted that they had run out of patience after writing series of letters to the government to remind it of their plight.
“The situation is rather deteriorating as government has extended its segmentation payment at the local government level to the state, thereby instituting a “divide-and-rule” system and disunity amongst the pensioners.
“In the light of the foregoing, the pensioners, both at the state and local government levels have decided to embark on an indefinite peaceful protest across the State with effect from September 4, 2019 until our demands are met.”
Our Correspondent learnt that the pensioners at state level were paid their April 2018 pension in May this year while payment of gratuities were suspended since July 2018