Over 150 pensioners stormed the government house Abakaliki, Ebonyi yesterday 29 August on a peacefully protest over an alleged inhuman treatment meted on its members during a verification exercise in the state.
Addressing journalists, the Secretary of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ebonyi state chapter, Mr Ukpai Aruwa, expressed regret that some of their members slumped due to the way the verification exercise was ororganized.
He said: “We are protesting because of this inhuman way government has organized verification for these old men/ women.
“Within the year, we carried out at least 3 verifications. The last one was done in June and this second one, they went on air to announce that those who retired from 1996 should come for verification at staff development centre.
“On hearing that, we wrote to the deputy governor telling him that the way the verification is organized is not good.
“Some people have slumped during this verification, whereas some have died on the process but government is not aware. I can’t estimate the number of people who slumped but on the first day, I saw one man who slumped on my face and he was immediately rushed to hospital by a good Samaritan. “People have been fainting since. What we want government to do, even if they want to pay one kobo, is that they should decentralize the verification exercise because these old men and women have no strength to undergo this kind of inhuman treatment.” In a swift reaction, the governor, Chief David Umahi, who spoke through the Senior Special Adviser on security, Dr Kenneth Ugbala, said “you have come to lodge your complaint to the government and you know that governor Umahi has good intentions for the pensioners.While responding the senior special adviser to the governor on security who spoke on behalf of the governor, console the Protestant saying you have lodge your complaint, and you know that the governor meant well. He further stressed that about 1.5 billion naira in other to tackle the pension scheme.
