Pensioners protest in Bauchi for non-payment of allowances

The Bauchi State pensioners in their scores, on Friday, staged a protest for the non payment of their three months’ allowances by the State Government.

The pensioners, who had earlier gathered at their secretariat at Railways road and thereafter proceeded to Nassarawa Jahun road through the Bank Road, later blocked the main entrance to the Government House.

In spite of the presence of heavily armed policemen and other security agents, the pensioners insisted that they must talk to Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of the state.

The pensioners, who were led by their chairman, Habu Gar, chanted slogans such as “governor, we have run out of patience.

“Some of our members have died due to non payment of their entitlements. Pay us our entitlements and don’t hide under the guise of staff verification”.

Gar said that only 30 state pensioners out of the more than 7,000 had been paid, adding that in spite of the promises made by the governor, none of their members had received bank alerts.

Alhaji Bello Illelah, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who represented the governor, while responding, urged the pensioners to be more patient as they would collect their entitlements after the Juma’at prayer.

Illelah disclosed that the State Government had ordered Alhaji Abubakar Gabi, the State Accountant-General to release N65m for the payment of their allowances.

He explained that the on-going staff verification exercise was meant to flush out deceased pensioners, whose names are still on the payroll of the government. (NAN)