As stated by the Edo State Government, the payment of pension to retired workers is up-to-date and currently spends one-third of its staff costs on pension payments.
The State Government’s viewpoint was delivered on Friday by Chris Osa Nehikhare, Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, who stated: “As a government, we have solved the issue of gratuity for those younger employees by shifting them to the Contributory Pension Scheme.”
Nehikhare continued, “We are current on pension payments, and we are one of the few states in Nigeria that have given regular pension payments priority.”
“We standardized the pension, raised the required pension, and as a government, we owe no gratuity.” However, the previous administration left unpaid gratuities that we had to inherit.
By the way, we also make N100 million available each month to provide gratuity to retirees who have major medical issues. Last year, we paid over N1 billion.
We are forced to assume that the protest was politically driven and expertly staged by those politicians who initially caused the issue, given the timing of the protest by several pensioners who used to communicate with us frequently on pension concerns.
According to the Commissioner, “What it appears the pensioners are asking for is that we should not expand and strengthen the workforce by hiring younger individuals into the public service.”
“Our government has always been open to diplomacy and decent exchanges, but we will never cave to blackmail and intimidation,” he emphasized.
“We will keep acting entirely in accordance with what we think is appropriate and making wise investments to make Edo State Great Again.”