Retired civil servants in Taraba State took over the Taraba State Government House yesterday in protest over the non-payment of their pensions and other entitlements.

The retirees came from across the 16 local government areas of the state with a few of their children and spouses.

They earlier gathered at the office of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, where they mobilised and trekked to the Government House, carrying placards and chanting slogans.

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Some of the placards read: “Pay our consequential adjustment arising from the implementation of minimum wage for civil servants in 2019,” “Give us our rights Taraba State Government,” “Pay us our 33 per cent pension increase approved since 2014,” and “Pension is a right, not a privilege.” They also sang “Darius give us our pension and gratuity.”

The retirees are also demanding the enrolment of over 1,000 local government retirees for pension, prompt payment of gratuity, prompt payment of pension, implementation of the 33 per cent pension increase and implementation of consequential adjustment in pension and others.

Prior to their procession to the Government House, the pensioners had a meeting with labour leaders but the meeting was unsuccessful and the leaders had to take a leave.

The pensioners had, penultimate week, in a chat with reporters, resolved not to participate in the general election next year over the government’s failure to settle their outstanding entitlements.

According to the state chairman, Kefas Katan, the Taraba State Government owes pensioners in the state up to N30 billion.