Rivers: Wike approves payment of pension arrears, gratuities

By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

After persistent protests by Pensioners in Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike has approved the immediate payment of outstanding gratuity, monthly pension, arrears, and death benefits of retirees in the state public service.

A statement by the Director-General of the Rivers State Pension Board, Samuel Ijeoma said the exercise will be done in batches.

It said the first batch is for all those who retired up to June 2014.

It said all affected retirees and next-of-kin for deceased retirees under this batch should come to the Ministry of Justice Conference Hall for physical verification from June 15-23 with their retirement ID Cards and other relevant documents.

Our Correspondent reports that affected Pensioners had been staging peaceful protests, prayers sessions on the streets of Port Harcourt to draw the attention of the Rivers State Governor to their plight for over six years to no avail.

Comrade Beatrice Itubo Chairperson of the Rivers State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the governorship candidate for the Labour Party in a radio programme on Democracy Day(June 12) berated the State Governor for refusal to pay pensioners who had sacrificed greater part of their adult lives in the service to the State.