Metro

Vehicular, Human Movements Grounded In Benin As Pensioners Protest Non Payment Of Gratuities

Published

4 years ago

March 16, 2022

Vehicular and human movements were on Wednesday grounded at the ever-busy Oba Ovonramwen square popularly called Ring Road

as Edo State pensioners protested the non payment of gratuities between 2008 and 2012.

The blockade of the road by the pensioners resulted to heavy gridlock in major roads and adjoining streets such as Mission Road, Forestry Road, Sapele Road, Sakponba Road, Ekehuan Road, Uselu-Ugbowo axis and Airport Road linking the city centre.

The protest forced commuters to spend a major part of the day waiting for the pensioners to leave the routes while passengers had to alight from vehicles and trekked longer hours to get to their terminal point.

The retirees, drawn from the state and local government council, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Six years of this government no pensioner has been paid gratuity, pay us consequential adjustment base of 2019 minimum wage, save pensioners from avoidable death, pay us our gratuities, enough is enough,pay us our recent age increment,

The senior citizens who said they retired between 2008 and 2013 and served the governments diligently, said they should be duly compensated with their retirement benefits.

According to the retirees, state pensioners who retired from service in the year 2012 and 2013 were screened in April 2017 and their gratuity papers known as Yellow Paper were collected from them, adding that these set of pensioners are yet to be paid while some of the them have even passed away.

“Since 2008 to date local government pensioners have not been paid their gratuity. In addition to the above, majority of them have also not been paid their pension arrears”, they said.

Speaking, Marcus Afekhatse who retired in 2014, lamented that his gratuity has not been paid after eight years of retirement and it has made it difficult for him to cater for his family.

“Three groups are on the road today. Our colleagues in local government who retired in 2008 and has not been paid gratuity till date are here.

“At the state level, pensioners who retired since 2012 and have not been paid gratuity are also here while others are members still receiving pitiable sum such as N2000, N4000 as monthly pension since they retired over 20 years ago”, he added.

He claimed that the Permanent Secretaries that recently retired have been paid their gratuities at the expense of the lower cadre that have retired several years ago.

On her part, Josephine Aisagbovomwan, another pensioner, said the protest was to draw the attention of the world to their plights so that the state government can pay their gratuities.

Aisagbovomwan, who retired in 2017, said she is yet to get her gratuity, lamenting that she served the state for 35 years diligently only to be denied of her gratuity by the government she served faithfully.

Meanwhile, the Edo State government has assured pensioners that modalities are being put in place to offset the arrears of their gratuities.

Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo State, gave the assurance while addressing protesting pensioners.

Shaibu, who pleaded with the pensioners to give the government time to resolve the issue, said it would be resolved.

Metro

Police Impound Vehicle With 387 Blocks Of Cannabis In Bauchi

Published

16 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi state Police Command says it has impounded a vehicle with nothing less than 387 blocks of suspected cannabis sativa after involving in an auto crash in the state.

Sani Omolori-Aliyu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bauchi state Command.

According to him, the car and one other had a head-on collision in Wom village of Toro Local Government Area of the state on October 4, 2025 at about 11:30am.

“Initial reports from eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations indicate that the first vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla with registration number ABC-459LF, was operated by one Ali Muhammad, a 45-year-old resident of Nabardo Village.

“He was transporting the District Head of Nabardo, Suleiman Suleiman, aged 65, along with his family members as they travelled from Bauchi Metropolis to Nabardo Village.

“The second vehicle, another white Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA-155GW, was driven by an individual yet to be identified, who was travelling from Jos, Plateau State, towards Bauchi.

“It was reported that this driver attempted to overtake other vehicles without exercising adequate caution, resulting in a head-on collision with the first vehicle,” he said.

The Commissioner further explained that the occupants of both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were transported to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical care.

He said that the District Head suffered a fracture in his left leg and is currently receiving treatment with other victims while some have been discharged.

Omolori-Aliyu also revealed that in the aftermath of the incident, during the search at the scene, the detectives recovered several items in the damaged vehicle which included the 387 blocks of suspected cannabis.

The Commissioner, who explained that the command was in pursuit of the unidentified driver to ensure accountability and prompt legal action, encouraged anyone with information regarding the driver’s identity to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“The police are committed to diligently pursuing leads to identify the principal suspect.

“The Bauchi State Police Command is dedicated to maintaining peace and order in our community and urges the public to remain calm and cooperative throughout this process.

“We invite anyone with information that could aid in this investigation to contact us and we assure citizens that we are resolutely focused on ensuring justice is achieved,” he said.

While receiving the exhibits, Hussaini Umar, Deputy Commandant, NDLEA, appreciated the police for the cooperation and synergy and promised to work hand in hand to ensure that the driver and the owner were found.

Metro

Fake Revenue Agents Apprehended In Aba While Defrauding Residents

Published

21 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Abia State Harmonized Taskforce has apprehended four individuals impersonating as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for acts of extortion, intimidation, and illegal enforcement along the Port Harcourt Road axis of Aba and its environs.

They were nabbed on Thursday at Flyover junction around Ugwunagbo area through an operation authorized by the Aba Area Coordinator of ASHTF, Mr. Uche Wogu.

A statement issued by Miracle Chukwunenye, spokesperson of the Harmonized Task Force said that the agency received multiple complaints from market women, tricycle (Keke) operators, and traders about the unlawful activities of a group led by one Mr. Ahuama.

‎”Upon arrival, the Taskforce, in joint effort with the police, arrested Mr. Ahuama and three accomplices who were caught extorting money from unsuspecting traders and tricycle operators under the false pretense of being NURTW officials.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects had already impounded about twenty (20) tricycles earlier that morning and collected money from the owners before being intercepted,” Chukwunenye said.

‎He added that during the operation, the suspects resisted arrest and attacked Taskforce operatives and police officers, but they were eventually subdued and are now in custody.

Chukwunenye sensitized traders and transporters that Abia State operates a strict No-Cash-at-Hand revenue system, and as such, no government-authorized personnel is permitted to collect cash from citizens.