Edo Pensioners Demand Payment of 12-Year Gratuity Arrears, Threaten Mass Protest

From Ebohon Joan

Edo State pensioners whose gratuities have remained unpaid for up to 12 years have decried what they described as the continued neglect of retired civil servants by successive administrations in the state.

The pensioners accused successive governments, including the administrations of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor Godwin Obaseki and the incumbent Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, of failing to adequately address the backlog of gratuities and other entitlements owed to retired workers.

Speaking at a review meeting held at the Teachers’ House, Ogida Quarters, Benin City, the senior citizens expressed frustration over what they described as the “nonchalant posture” of government towards their plight.

The pensioners said the delay in paying their gratuities, which they described as a legitimate entitlement after years of service, had subjected many retirees to hardship and uncertainty.

They alleged that the continued withholding of their benefits had contributed to the deaths of some of their colleagues, saying several pensioners had suffered serious financial and emotional distress after leaving government service.

At the meeting, the chairman of the Association of Retired Civil Servants of Nigeria (ARCSWON), Mr. Samson Abievbode, moved a motion on whether members should embark on a mass protest to the Edo State Government House and other relevant government offices.

The motion received overwhelming approval through a voice vote on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, with members expressing readiness to publicly demand the payment of their outstanding benefits.

In a statement issued by the group’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Amadin Edobo Okoro, the pensioners said they were tired of what they described as the repeated excuse of “lack of funds” by successive administrations.

They questioned why former political office holders and government appointees receive severance benefits within a short period after leaving office, while retired civil servants are allegedly made to wait for years before receiving their gratuities.

According to the pensioners, the disparity was particularly painful because the gratuities owed to retired workers were relatively small compared with the severance packages reportedly paid to political office holders and other public officials.

The group also expressed concern over the pension funding system, arguing that pension liabilities are captured in annual budgets and should be funded in accordance with established government procedures.

They further recalled that Governor Monday Okpebholo had constituted a committee to investigate the status of pensions and gratuities in the state, expressing disappointment that the outcome of the exercise had yet to provide a solution to their outstanding demands.

The pensioners also questioned the government’s ability to fund other programmes and provide financial support to various groups while outstanding gratuities to retired workers remain unpaid.

They therefore appealed to Governor Okpebholo to urgently approve the release of funds to settle outstanding gratuities reportedly dating from 2014 to 2022, as well as harmonisation payments and other entitlements owed to state and local government pensioners.

The senior citizens warned that continued delay could further worsen the hardship faced by retirees and urged the state government to treat the issue as an emergency.