Retired FG workers stage protest in Ogun

HUNDREDS of civil servants who retired from the federal service in Ogun State, on Tuesday, took to major streets, protesting non-payment of their pensions and gratuities for several years.
The protesters, aged between 65 and 95 years old, were armed with placards, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to come to their rescue.
The spokesperson of the group, Mr Made Mustapha, alleged that most of the members had not received any gratuity and pension while others were being underpaid.
“I want to passionately appeal to  the president to please help us. We know that he may not be aware of our plight, that is why we are sending you to him.
“Some of us depend on our children from Lagos to send cooked soup and stew to us so that we may not die of hunger. Our situation is that terrible,” he said.
Mrs Folake Taiwo, claiming to have retired since 1996, alleged that the government had stopped payment of her pension since  2000.
“I could hardly feed my children, not to talk of taking care of myself, as a widow. Life has been so difficult for me. Please, help us to beg our president,” she pleaded.
Mrs Bisi Ojelade said she retired  as a level 7 officer in 2000, but she had not received any gratuity or pension.
“I became blind because of my inability to pay hospital bills and get necessary drugs to take care of myself. This is not what I deserve from a country I served sincerely for years,” she claimed.