Retirees in Niger state have stormed Government House in Minna , to protest non-payment of their gratuity for the past eight years by the state government.
One of the retirees, Alhaji Idris Ndalati, who retired as Chief Driver from Government House, told Radio Nigeria in Minna that he had not been paid his gratuity, for seven years.
According to him many retirees in have died while some have developed high blood pressure and stroke due to problems associated with non payment of their retirement benefits.
“Our children had dropped out of school because we would no longer pay their school fees and many of us cannot shoulder the responsibility of feeding our family.
The protesters also accused the Niger State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioneers of not protecting the interest of its members.
Addressing the protesters at the vicinity of Government House Minna , state Deputy Governor Ahmed Mohammed Ketso expressed optimism that Niger state government will look into the complaint forwarded by the retired civil servants
He therefore fixed tomorrow for an interface with the retirees, to look into grey areas with a view to addressing some of them.
Also speaking to Journalists in Minna, Secretary to the Niger state Government Ahmed Ibrahim Matane said government is not insensitive to the plight of retired civil servants.
Ahmed Ibrahim Matane however added that Niger state is up to date in the payment of monthly pension and that it will continue to improve on it.
Aliyu Lawal