LAWYER URGES LAWMAKERS TO CRIMINALISE DELAYED PENSION PAYMENTS

Lawyer and public affairs analyst, Maxwell Opara, has called for legislation criminalising delays and the denial of pension payments, arguing that retirees should not be forced to protest before receiving benefits earned after decades of service.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE News, Opara said failure to pay pensions when due should attract criminal sanctions.

He said retirees who had served the country for up to 35 years should not have to struggle or repeatedly demand money that legally belongs to them.

Opara also condemned the alleged use of tear gas against protesting pensioners, describing it as a violation of their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and dignity.

The lawyer urged affected pensioners to continue pursuing their demands through lawful means, adding that he was willing to provide free legal services to support their cause.

He said pensioners whose rights were allegedly violated could approach the courts to seek the enforcement of their fundamental rights.

Opara also criticised the deployment of security personnel against peaceful protesters, arguing that security agencies should focus on preventing demonstrations from being hijacked by hoodlums rather than confronting pensioners.

He further questioned the prolonged delays in the payment of retirees’ gratuities and pensions, noting that some pensioners allegedly face repeated verification exercises and other obstacles before receiving their entitlements.

The lawyer also criticised the National Assembly over what he described as inadequate protection of retirees’ interests.

Opara said he would seek to sponsor a bill criminalising delayed pension payments if elected as a member of the House of Representatives.