By B. N. Etim
Few weeks to Christmas, some retired primary school teachers in Akwa Ibom state and they’re next – of – kins protested the non – payment of their retirement benefits by the successive administrations. During that protest, they demanded the payment of their gratuity, arrears of pension, death gratuity to next – of – kins, 7.5 compulsory pension deduction from salary, among other demands.
While some faceless political groups, without government consent, went on social media to condemn the protest possibly because of how magnanimous the governor was in clearing 10 years arrears of entitlements owed those worked in the state civil service; the Head of Civil Service in the state, Elder Effiong Essien, in a statement surprisingly lauded the retirees for keeping the protest peaceful and orderly. Elsewhere, the government could have criticized the protesters or dub them mercenaries of opposition political parties. Instead, the Head of the service assured them…
Source: Vanguard Newspaper
