Sunday Oboite, 75, was waiting in the reception of the Oredo Local Government Area secretariat of Edo State to receive his 10-month pension arrears, when he complained of hunger and thirst and slumped moments later.

Doctors confirmed him dead thereafter.

Oboite was offered a bottle of beverage and some water by a Good Samaritan after he complained of hunger, the Punch writes of the incident which sparked a protest among his other waiting peers.

“Sunday said he had no money to buy food and drugs. For 10 months now, we have not been paid. Many others have died without collecting their benefits,” said James Omorogbe, another pensioner.

Omorogbe added that the computers used for the screening were always shutting down. He said it took the death of their colleague for the council to provide them with chairs. He said the death of Oboite could have been avoided if the council officials had made adequate arrangements for the screening exercise.

One source who spoke to the newspaper lamented that “Some of the pensioners complained that they had presented themselves for screening at the secretariat at about 8am, but were later informed to go to Urhokpota Hall, about 100 metres away. They also decried the delay in the exercise, which took hours before it commenced.”

The Secretary of Oredo Pensioners Association, Mr. James Erhunmense, said the late Oboite had arrived the venue of the exercise alone and complained of not having any money to buy food and drugs.

He also said the late pensioner was unable to go to the designated hall with his colleagues but chose to wait at the reception due to fatigue.

It is not the first time pensioners have slumped on the queue while waiting to be paid their arrears in Nigeria’s recent history.

Sunday Oboite, 75, was waiting in the reception of the Oredo Local Government Area secretariat of Edo State to receive his 10-month pension arrears, when he complained of hunger and thirst and slumped moments later.

Doctors confirmed him dead thereafter.

Oboite was offered a bottle of beverage and some water by a Good Samaritan after he complained of hunger, the Punch writes of the incident which sparked a protest among his other waiting peers.

“Sunday said he had no money to buy food and drugs. For 10 months now, we have not been paid. Many others have died without collecting their benefits,” said James Omorogbe, another pensioner.

Omorogbe added that the computers used for the screening were always shutting down. He said it took the death of their colleague for the council to provide them with chairs. He said the death of Oboite could have been avoided if the council officials had made adequate arrangements for the screening exercise.

One source who spoke to the newspaper lamented that “Some of the pensioners complained that they had presented themselves for screening at the secretariat at about 8am, but were later informed to go to Urhokpota Hall, about 100 metres away. They also decried the delay in the exercise, which took hours before it commenced.”

The Secretary of Oredo Pensioners Association, Mr. James Erhunmense, said the late Oboite had arrived the venue of the exercise alone and complained of not having any money to buy food and drugs.

He also said the late pensioner was unable to go to the designated hall with his colleagues but chose to wait at the reception due to fatigue.

It is not the first time pensioners have slumped on the queue while waiting to be paid their arrears in Nigeria’s recent history.