Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have protested the outrageous deduction in their monthly pension by the state government.
The protesting members blocked the entrance gate to the State Accountant General's office and prevented free flow of vehicles for several hours.
They were shouting solidarity songs and accusing the state government of not being concerned about the well being of pensioners in the state.
According to them, there is record of delay, outrageous and constant deduction by state government in their pensions.
They also accused government of not totally paying their gratuity and it has caused them to face hardship.
Speaking the Akure South Secretary of Pensioners, Mr. Sunday Boboye accused the Office of the State Account General of short-changing their arrears stressing that many of them have since been faced with constant deduction.
"Its dishearten that since December government has been taking our money to the bank on the pretense of e- payment and when they took the money to the bank some of our members protested against it but it was later resolved.
"Since they have taken the money to the bank, Many of our members have not been receiving their pensions on time and the last time we received our pension was November and December last year.
"They have outrageously deducted our pension which we believe is inhuman and when they explained to use the reasons behind the deduction they told us is for the repair of the remittance Machines".
Some of them also revealed that the constant deduction has put untold hardship on many of their members who now find it difficult to eat and cater for their family.
They revealed that government is putting much suffering on them without considering their old age after working tirelessly before their retirement.
"Just check other states and even the neighboring or sister states, the plight of their pensioners is always of major concern but in Ondo State, the reverse is the case.
"A lot of pensioners have died in Ondo State because government refused to pay their money which they would have used in taking care of themselves".
Addressing the Pensioners at the Office of the State Accountant General, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Raphael Adetuwo said the grievances of the protesting pensioners would be address as the Account General has ordered them to write a letter to the effect.
"We have met with the State Accountant General and he has compelled us to write a letter to the government over the matter because none of us is happy over the matter. The state government would look into the grievances.
"Let me assure you that we won't let you down and we shall carry you along in all the proceedings for us to get justices and retrieving our right" He said.
He stated that the executive members of the union would ensure they get to the root of the struggle while he added that the issue of gratuity is from the Federal Government and even the State government is trying all its effort to ensure the State Council receive it as at when due.
In his words, the State Account General, Mr. Frederick Ajibokun said government is trying effortlessly to ensure that pensioners in the state received their money on time.
Ajibokun revealed that many of the pensioners have not received their money because they had refused to get enlisted into the computerized payment of their pension.
He advised them to try and get more information on how to get captured with the new e payment system where their data would be needed to pay their pension.
"I would urged you to get acquitted with the e- payment system where your name and passport photograph would be needed so that government can pay your money. Let me state it emphatically that no one will eat your money".
He said the government would never joked with pensioners money in the state and urged them to key into the e- payment system.
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