Retired civil servants protest in Kwara State

Retired civil servants under the auspices of the Nigerian Postal Service Pensioners this morning picketed the Ilorin office of Nigerian Postal Service over what they called insensitivity to their plights. The furious pensioners were protesting the non-payment of twenty months pension arrears owed them by the Federal Government. They accused the Accountant General of the Federation of withholding their money and vowed not to shift ground until their demands are met. They pasted the following inscriptions at the entrance of the post office; "Accountant General of the Federation release our pension money for payment. No payment no work throughout the Federation in all post offices till further notice. This action of yours is uncalled for, it is killing, inhuman and totally outrageous. It was gathered that workers of the Ilorin office of Nigerian Postal Service were locked out by the angering pensioners. Speaking with our reporter, Olayinka Alaya one of the pensioners, Mr. Samuel Odeyemi, decried the pitiable condition of pensioners, saying that many of them are dying. He alleged that government has not been forthcoming on the several talks held with the leaders of the union. Another pensioner, Mr. Stephen Mebaniud insisted that they would continue with their action until their demands are met. Efforts by our reporter to speak with the chairman of the pensioners were unsuccessful, as Policemen from 'B' Department operation whisked away some executives of the union around quarter to eleven, this morning. Also, the Area Manager of the Ilorin office of Nigerian Postal Service could not be reached for comment.