Retired local government workers and primary school teachers in Delta State have given the state government a 14-day ultimatum to refund alleged unlawful deductions of ₦11.6 billion from their pensions and pay an additional ₦5.9 billion in outstanding pension contributions, threatening to embark on a peaceful protest on October 27, 2026, if their demands are not met.
The retirees, under the aegis of the Forum for Retired Local Government Workers and the Association of Retired Primary School Teachers, ARPST, said the planned protest was to draw public attention to their plight over what they described as unjust deductions from their entitlements.
In a communiqué issued at the end of their joint general meeting held at the Teachers’ House, Ughelli, on Thursday, October 8, the groups disclosed that more than 2,000 retirees, all aged above 60, would participate in the first phase of the protest.
They added that the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, DSS, had been notified of their intention to stage the demonstration.
The retirees recalled that the Delta State House of Assembly approved a ₦40 billion credit facility in 2023 to help offset part of the ₦51.6 billion pension arrears owed to retired local government workers and primary school teachers.
While expressing appreciation for the approval, they alleged that payments subsequently made fell short of their entitlements, with between ₦2 million and ₦10 million deducted from each retiree.
According to the communiqué, the alleged deductions affected retirees from both the local government service and the Local Education Authority.
The groups accused the state government of creating the impression that pension arrears owed to the affected retirees had been fully settled without accounting for the alleged deductions.
They insisted that the disputed amounts must be refunded, rejecting what they described as attempts to portray the payments as complete.
The retirees demanded the immediate refund of the alleged ₦11.6 billion deductions and payment of another ₦5.9 billion, which they said represented pension contributions approved by the state government for the period between May 2016 and October 2018.
They lamented that repeated efforts to resolve the dispute through dialogue had yielded no satisfactory result.
The communiqué stated that the groups had written to the state governor, the Bureau of Local Government Pensions and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, seeking a review of the deductions and reconsideration of the government’s position.
They also disclosed that they had approached the Peace Building and Advisory Council, led by Professor Sam Oyovbaire, to mediate in the dispute.
According to them, the council examined the facts presented and recommended the refund of the disputed ₦11.6 billion.
Expressing concern over the welfare of their members, the retirees said many elderly beneficiaries were struggling to feed themselves and meet their medical needs amid the prevailing economic hardship.
They added that some of their members had died while waiting for their pension entitlements.
The communiqué stated: “It is instructive to note that our members are elderly and can hardly feed themselves because of the prevailing harsh economic conditions. Many are going through medical challenges and have died waiting for what is rightfully theirs.”
The groups maintained that the protest would be peaceful and lawful, urging the state government to address their demands before the ultimatum expires.
The communiqué was signed by Pst Daniel Onosanimoni, Chairman, and Elder Godwin Ekeleni, Secretary, of the Forum for Retired Local Government Workers, as well as Prince Gordon Etuwede, Chairman, and Comrade John Egie, Secretary, of ARPST.
