The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, in Edo has disowned a letter purporting the union’s planned protest against the state government over unpaid pensions.
The union’s chairman, Comrade Samuel Okhuelegbe, refuted the claim during a meeting with its members in Benin on Tuesday.
Okhuelegbe said those who authored the letter to notify the government do not represent the interest of the pensioners in the state.
He noted that the intention was to create bad blood between the pensioners and the Edo Government, adding that their pensions were paid by the 25th or 26th of every month.
He wondered why the union would contemplate demonstrating against a government that had paid 21 years of pension arrears to the state and local government pensioners.
“The government has also promised to harmonise pensioners’ money and increase gratuity payment, both at the local and state levels, because he discovered that our pension is small.
“When I got the information of some people planning to stage a protest, I was surprised. I said there was no need for a protest at this time when the governor was responding to our requests.
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“In order to find out the real position of the rumour of the protest, we decided to call a meeting of the different bodies that make up the union, and we found out that it was not true.
“We are debunking it now that there is no protest from any quarters. Those thinking about a protest now are not representing the good interest of pensioners in the state.
“They are trying to cause bad blood between the union and the state government,” he said.
The NUP chairman added that the Godwin Obaseki-led government had introduced 13th month’s pay for pensioners in addition to the free Health Insurance Scheme.
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