CSO: Settle the 5 months unpaid pension of retirees

Centre for Labour Studies, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has called on the Imo State Government to settle the backlog of unpaid pension to retirees in the state.

In a statement by labour lawyer, Femi Aborisade, the CSO said that it was heartbreaking to see the frustrated pensioners resort to a “alms-begging protest” to draw government’s attention.

Aborisade argued that non-payment of wages was a contravention of the Protection of Wages Convention No. 95 of the International Labour Organisation.

According to him, pensioners in Imo State have not been paid since February this year. Aborisade said,

“It is the height of inexplicable callousness for governments to impose lockdown on account of COVID-19 and still fail to pay wages to ensure that workers and their families are able to purchase food for necessary nutrition to be able to resist COVID-19.

The Centre for Labour Studies calls on the entire organised labour to take practical action and support the pensioners in Imo State to ensure payment of wages, which includes pension.”