Enyioha Opara , Minna

Pandemonium ensued in the Niger State House of Assembly on Wednesday after hundreds of pensioners took over the Assembly complex , demanding the payment of their pensions and gratuities.

This came as the legislators , within three hours, passed into law the amended law establishing ‘A Contributory Pension Scheme for Employees in the Public Service of Niger State and for Other Related Matters Connected Therewith. ’

During the protest , the Public Relations Officer, New Pensioners Association, Chanchaga Local Government Area, Liman Chado, collapsed.

It took other pensioners and security men about two hours to revive Chado, who was thereafter rushed to a hospital for medical attention.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the PRO could have slumped from exhaustion.

The pensioners vowed to remain within the Assembly complex until their demands were met.

The House, after a three – hour debate at its 28th sitting, passed the amended bill which expunged the provision that exempted permanent secretaries and some key officers in the ministry from the contributory pension scheme.

The permanent secretaries and other officers in their category were also withdrawn from the first line charge in the payment of pensions.

According to the new law , civil servants who joined the service from 1992, are exempted from the CPS.

Speaker of the Assembly , Ahmed Marafa , who commended the speed at which the bill was passed, said the action “ has brought an end to the crisis associated with the payment of pension in this state . ”

Marafa , thereafter directed the clerk of the House to communicate the decision to the state governor for assent.

Punchng