By Ado Oyeyemi
Retirees under the Edo State Contributory Pension Scheme on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest at the state House of Assembly, demanding their removal from the scheme over what they described as “unacceptable” monthly pension payments.
The protesters alleged that some former civil servants who devoted decades to the state were receiving between N7,000 and N10,000 monthly as pension.
Armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “CPS is evil,” “CPS is failing Edo workers and pensioners,” “Mr Governor, save our soul” and “You can do it, exit us from CPS,” the retirees called on the state government to review their pension arrangement.
Speaking during the protest, the chairman of the group, Andrew Asemota, said the pension payments had left many retirees struggling despite their long years of service.
Asemota disclosed that he personally receives N45,000 monthly after spending 35 years in service, while some of his colleagues receive as little as N7,000 and N10,000.
“We are retirees from the Edo State Civil Service under the state’s Contributory Pension Scheme.
Today, as a pensioner, I am receiving N45,000 as pension after working for 35 years.
Many pensioners are receiving as low as N7,000 and N10,000,” he said.
He said the protesters approached the lawmakers to seek their intervention and assistance in persuading the state government to move affected retirees out of the CPS.
According to him, many of the retirees joined the civil service when Edo was still part of the old Bendel State and had already spent nearly three decades in service when the contributory pension system was introduced.
Asemota recalled that the CPS law was enacted under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2017, adding that some workers had already put in 28 or 29 years of service before being brought under the scheme.
“We are here to seek your assistance and help us talk to the state governor, Monday Okpebholo, to come to our aid because he is a listening governor who has come to right the wrong of the past,” he said.
Responding to the protesters, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yekini Idaiye, assured them that their grievances would be communicated to Governor Okpebholo for consideration.
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The Speaker urged the retirees to remain peaceful and law-abiding while pursuing their demands.
