By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Benue State Council, on Thursday distanced itself from a protest staged in Makurdi by a group known as “Concerned Pensioners,” describing the action as illegal and unrepresentative of pensioners in the state.
In a statement issued by the State Chairman of the union, Comrade Michael Vembe, the NUP dismissed claims by the group that it regretted supporting the purchase of a nomination form for Governor Hyacinth Alia ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Vembe said members of the group were never part of the decision to purchase the nomination form for the governor, noting that they had publicly opposed the move through print and electronic media when it was initiated.
According to him, it was contradictory for the group to claim it regretted a decision in which it played no role.
The NUP chairman consequently disowned the group, describing it as illegal and urging security agencies to take appropriate action against its activities.
He called on pensioners across the state to disregard what he termed the antics of the group and remain law-abiding.
Vembe further disclosed that the union was currently engaging the Benue State Government on the issue of outstanding inherited pension arrears.
He expressed optimism that the arrears would soon be paid, stating that the government had already commenced the process toward settling the outstanding liabilities.
Recall that the Concerned Pensioners Association in Benue State on Wednesday threatened to occupy Government House over the alleged failure of the state government to clear outstanding pension arrears, gratuities and implement pension harmonisation for retirees.
Chairman of the association, Akosu Orban, who addressed journalists during a peaceful protest held along Naka road in Makurdi, said pensioners had exhausted all avenues of dialogue with the government without success, forcing them to take to the streets to press home their demands.
He said the association was demanding the payment of gratuities owed retirees dating back to the year 2000, as well as pension arrears of 38 months and 62 months for state and local government pensioners respectively.
Orban also accused the government of failing to implement pension harmonisation as provided under Section 210 of the 1999 Constitution, alleging that some retirees still receive as little as N2,000 monthly pension despite the existence of a N40,000 minimum pension benchmark.
The pensioners who defied a heavy downpour to protest their grievances carried placards with inscriptions demanding the payment of pension arrears, gratuities and pension harmonisation as they further regretted buying nomination forms for Alia’s reelection.
Some of the placards read, “Your Excellency, pensioners are dying, pay our arrears and entitlements,” and “Gov. Alia, pay our 38–62 months pension arrears, 25 years gratuities and harmonisation.”
The association, a splinter group of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners registered in 2022, marched along Naka road in Makurdi as they recalled how they supported Governor Hyacinth Alia’s emergence in the 2023 governorship election following assurances that pension arrears and gratuity backlogs would be cleared within 100 days of assuming office.
Earlier, the Benue State government said it inherited over N300 billion in unpaid pensions and gratuities from previous administrations, describing it as one of the highest pension liabilities in the country.
State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Michael Oglegba, who spoke to journalists in Makurdi on telephone, said the government was making efforts to clear the backlog despite limited resources.
“What we inherited from both the state and local governments is over N300 billion. That is one of the highest pension liabilities in the country, but we are doing our very best to pay what we can,” he said.
Oglegba maintained that pensioners had the constitutional right to protest but insisted that the government had continued to make payments within available resources.
“We are paying as much as we can. We are addressing the backlog, but the funds are not available to clear everything at the same time,” he added.
