Governor Okowa avert another pensioners’ protest; releases N5 billion for pension arrears

By Ovasa Ogaga,

Delta State Government on Monday announced the release of the sum of N5 billion for the payment of pension arrears to retirees in the state following the recent threats to embark on protest by the Local Government pensioners.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu said the sum of N2.5 billion was released for the payment of pension arrears for state pensioners while N2.5 billion was also released as a grant to Local Government Pensions Bureau for the payment of Local Government and primary school retirees.

Recall that Delta Government on Friday accused Deputy President of the Senate and Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of sponsoring local government pensioners’ protests against Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the state government.

Aniagwu who disclosed this at a news conference in Asaba; urged the general public to be wary of the protesters as they were playing the cards of their political sponsors.

But in what has been termed a smart political move to avert another protest by the pensioners which would have painted the Okowa-led government in a bad light, on Monday said the gesture was part of the government’s efforts at ameliorating the plight of the affected senior citizens in the state.

The Information Commissioner commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for his avowed commitment to the welfare and well-being of citizens of the state.