Pensioners in Benue besiege State Secretariat over unpaid arrears. PHOTOS

 Pensioners from the 23 local government councils of Benue on Monday besieged the state secretariat demanding an immediate payment of their 10 months’ unpaid arrears from the state government.
The pensioners said they had been suffering and wanted the state government to act fast before they would all die.

Mr. Moses Ejeh, who spoke on behalf of the pensioners, pleaded with the state government to pay them their arrears to enable them offset their pressing obligations such as healthcare and feeding.
Ejeh also said most of their members who had died were due to the hardship occasioned by the non-payment of their pensions.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the pensioners, who came out in large numbers, blocked the gate to the secretariat as early as 8 a.m., to make their impact felt.

The Permanent Secretary, office of the Head of Service, Mr.Zakari Audu, who attended to them, promised to convey their message to the appropriate quarters.
He consoled them over the death of some of their colleagues within the period that they were owed.
Audu, who said this was the first time the pensioners would gather to express their grievances.
He assured them that the arrears would be paid as soon as money was available.