Pensioner commits suicide in Benue

May 25, 2017 11:56 PM

Mr Nomsha hanged himself a week ago due to frustration over his inability to feed his family and pay his children's school fees.

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A pensioner from the Benue State Local Government Service, Mr.

The Chairman of Coalition of Local Government Pensioners,’ Mike Vembe, made the disclosure on Wednesday, May 24, during a peaceful demonstration at the Government House Makurdi.

He said Mr Nomsha hanged himself a week ago due to frustration over his inability to feed his family and pay his children's school fees.

"One of our members, Gabriel Nomsha, from Gwer West Local Government Area, committed suicide last week as a result of poverty and frustration."

Vembe also explained that the deceased had been screened and came with the hope of receiving his pension but was disappointed when he received no payment.

LIB reports that no less that 2,000 local pensioners from 23 Local Government Areas of the state slept at the gate of the Government House in Makurdi on Tuesday, May 23, to protest the non-payment of their pension to the tune of N1.1 billion.

The pensioners reportedly arrived the Government House at noon but were unable to see the Governor, so they decided to pass the night at the gate of government house.

Despite efforts by security agencies at the gate to disperse them, the pensioners held their ground.

Governor Samuel Ortom who was traveling to Abuja, came to address them the following morning.

LIB reports that Vambe who led the pensioners stated that the protest became a necessity after the Ministry of Finance stopped giving money to Local Government Pensions Board.

"We slept at the gate of the Government House since yesterday to press home our demands for the payment of our pension. The finance ministry stopped giving money to Local Government Pensions Board and this is causing our hardship."

Sympathizing with them, Governor Ortom, said their welfare was of utmost importance to his government and promised to do everything possible to pay up their pension arrears.