Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has fixed Thursday to meet with dissatisfied pensioners in the area, who have protested against the government over the failure to disburse their retirement benefits after bowing out as civil servants.
Sanwo-Olu directed the pensioners to follow the directive and make themselves available for the meeting to enable a dialogue and reach a lasting solution over the matter, following a spirited remonstration by the protesters who expressed disgruntlement over their inability to get their monthly benefits in two years,
The Governor, made the disclosure in absentia, after the retirees made way to the frontage of his office at Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja yesterday, stating that he believes that the government, under his administration, would see into the issues and make better welfare reforms for the demonstrators who spent 35 years in the civil service.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Funmi Sessi, who was part of the frontrunners of the agitation, said that Sanwo-Olu, promised to dialogue with the leadership of the state’s Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, in an attempt to provide succour and bring to an end of the suffering of retirees in Lagos State.
Sessi enjoined her fellow protesters to remain calm and shun the protests, adding that the government should be given till Thursday to resolve the issues.
However, the agency’s head disclosed that should the unwanted situation continues after the said day, the protest would continue and would be held until the state responds to the retirees request.
”I want to thank everybody, the CPS, DPS, for remaining resolute in this fight, standing firm, fighting for your right,” she said at the scene.
”Today, history has been made. Retirees have come out en-masse to show your displeasure against injustices. The meeting that took place today inside the governor’s office has resulted in a communique, which has all the issues affecting the CPS and DPS.
”The governor has said that we should have a meeting on Thursday. What we have seen is that the government is ready to address these issues positively,” she added, and continued, ”on this note, we want to appeal to you, let us be patient a bit until that Thursday. This protest would be put on hold. Let us give chance for dialogue and negotiation of all the issues.
Nevertheless, Sessi added, ”If the government fails to address the issue, we will resume the protest on Friday; and that will be until when the government is ready.”