PROTESTING retirees from Osun, on Friday blocked the main gates of the state secretariat, located in Abere to press home their demand for the payment of their 12 months pension arrears.
The pensioners, who started a fresh protest against Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration on Thursday continued their demonstration yesterday morning around 8. 45am when they barricaded the entrance of the main gates, leading into the state secretariat.
The development, which prevented civil servants from gaining assess into the secretariat also hampered some members of the public, who wanted to transact one business or the other inside the complex.
It took the intervention of stern looking anti-riot policemen and officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before the placards carrying protesters could be dispersed.
Speaking to journalists over the protest, the chairman of the pensioners under the aegis of 2011/2012 Osun Retirees, Comrade Omoniyi Ilesanmi said they would not relent in their demonstration in the state until their 12 months pension allowances were paid by the state government.
It would be recalled that the pensioners, who described their protest as “Operation Occupy Osogbo” on Thursday had vowed not to stop at nothing until their demands were met and welfare of pensioners accorded topmost priority by the state government.