71-Year-Old Kogi State Pensioner Threatens Suicide Over Unpaid Benefits

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A 71-year-old man, Dr. John Oshagbemi, who claimed to be a former Director in the Kogi State Ministry of Education, has threatened to commit suicide over the refusal of the state government to pay him his retirement after disengaging from the service in 2005. Oshagbemi, who claimed he was a director in examination department of the ministry before retirement having put in the mandatory 35 years alleged that he was paid N100, 000 out of N3 million owed him by the state government as his entitlement.


The retired educationist stated that the N100, 000 paid him by the pension board had 10 percent deduction as a tip by the accounting officers in the office. He said he has been leaving from hand to mouth as a result of refusal to pay him his entitlement. Oshagbemi maintained that he would commit suicide if all attempts to secure his money which he had laboured for failed.

The distressed former retiree who spoke to Natioanl Mirror in Lokoja said he is currently on N37,000 naira as monthly pension which according to him could not cater for his feeding and other family up-keep.

When National Mirror contacted, Acting Chairman of the state pension board, Mr. Ohiemi, he declined comment on the issue.