The Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has threatened to embark on strike if the state government fails to meet its demand.
The union gave the Benue State Government till the 16th of this month to meet their demands or face protests from members.
The Union demanded that the state government pay all local government pensioners their three months pension arrears without delay.
In a notification issued on Tuesday and signed by the State Chairman, Michael Vembe and Secretary, Saater Bur, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners also demanded that the government release Nine Hundred Million Naira every month for the payment of local Government Pensioners in the state.
The pensioners also want the government to start the payment of their pension arrears and gratuities, place all retirees that have fully processed their papers on pension payroll this month, and pay pension within a month of a worker’s retirement from service.
They resolved that if the government fails to meet their demands, the Union will have no choice but mobilise all pensioners in the state to protest on Wednesday next week.
While appreciating the government for paying three months’ pension to all state pensioners, the Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners lamented that one month has been paid to one third of local government pensioners.
The union noted that the pensioners were most vulnerable due to age and health challenges and therefore deserved priority attention when the fuel subsidy removal palliatives start.