Benue Pensioners Task EFCC, ICPC To Stop Ortom's Senatorial Bid Over Unpaid Entitlement

A group under the aegis of Concerned and Aggrieved Pensioners in Benue state, has called on the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), to stop Governor Samuel Ortom's senatorial bid in the 2023 general election.

The chairman of the group, Alex Akosu Orban during a peaceful protest on Monday, accused governor Ortom of owing 35 and 75 monthly pension arrears to the State and Local Government Pensioners respectively.

“He has not paid Gratuity since he came to power. He has refused to harmonise Pensioners and because of this, some Pensioners are still taking N800.00 per month. Poverty, sickness, hunger, nakedness, and accumulated bills are killing pensioners.”

Some of the Pensioners bore iron plates and spoons to signify begging, others had some placards which read in parts: “Use Pensioners money and buy the whole of Benue.”

“Ortom, you are leaving a very bad legacy for your children, if any. Stop lying against Aku and Adasu, they left no pension arrears. Pension money is Pensioners rights and not Ortom’s free gift to Pensioners.”

The leader of the group Orban, while handling a copy of a letter containing their grievances to the Officer in charge of the ICPC in Benue state, asked to help compel governor Ortom to pay their outstanding entitlements or not go to the Senate next year.

Responding, the ICPC boss, said the commission has a working template and will study the document and get back to them in writing as soon as possible.

He commended the senior citizens for their orderliness in the course of demanding for their entitlements.