Ekiti Pensioners Cry Out Over Decade-Long Unpaid Gratuities
Pensioners in Ekiti State are pleading with Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) to urgently address the backlog of unpaid gratuities, some dating back almost ten years.
In a heartfelt appeal shared on social media and restated by veteran journalist Peter Ajayi Dada, the retirees lamented untold hardship, with many unable to afford essential drugs or basic needs.
Some, they said, have died waiting for their entitlements.
While commending Governor Oyebanji for prioritising pension arrears since assuming office, the retirees urged him to accelerate payments, warning that “a hungry man is an angry man” and that neglect could dampen the goodwill his administration currently enjoys.
Dada noted that previous delays were linked to leadership crises within the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), but with fresh elections held, pensioners expect prompt action.
He cautioned political actors against exploiting the pensioners’ plight and appealed to union leaders to reconcile differences, present a united front, and engage the governor respectfully.
> “Do not abandon our senior citizens in their hour of need. Posterity will judge how this matter is handled,” Dada wrote, urging compassion, accountability, and urgent intervention.