There was commotion today as a 75-year-old pensioner who is being owed for 9 months by Edo state government, collapsed and died while waiting on queue alongside others for screening.
75-year-old pensioner, Sunday Oboitewho collapsed and died
There was pandemonium and confusion in the premises of Oredo local council secretariat in Benin, the Edo state capital, as a 75-year-old pensioner, Sunday Oboite collapsed and died on Tuesday afternoon, February 23rd, while waiting on a queue to be screened.
The unfortunate incident occurred at about 1:38pm as other pensioners in the local government council who were invited for screening by authorities because they are being owed nine months arrears, reportedly scampered in confusion.
It was gathered that the frail-looking man was said to have collapsed and fell to the ground. All efforts to revive him made by other male pensioners who mustered up boldness however failed as he gave up the ghost.
Other pensioners struggling to get screened
Sunday Erumwunse, the Secretary of Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oredo chapter, blamed the death of the pensioner on starvation as a result of delay in the payment of the pension arrears. He called on the government to expedite action to pay the pensioners their money.
One of the pensioners, John Eweka, who spoke to journalists, said: "I believe the man died of hunger. Many of us can no longer afford to eat. They should pay us our money."
Ambulance waiting to convey the corpse of Oboite to the mortuary
He called on the government to 'assist the family of the late pensioner with the burial expenses.'
Efforts made to get comments from the substantive chairman of Oredo local government council, Ms Sweet Ikpomwosa, failed as she refused to speak to journalists.