Former state employees protest for their benefits

The begin of payment of pensions on Monday provoked a stir as pensioners challenged the list of beneficiaries from the Treasury.

There were about a hundred men and women gathers on the streets of the Ministry of Finance (Minfi) yesterday in Yaounde. The former employees of restructured and liquidated state companies had invaded the premises shouting out their disapproval of the treatment they undergo concerning the payment of their benefits.

Although dispersed by the police, they did not leave completely but lurked around the premises of the ministry.

According to Paul Oul, from the office of the group of ex-employees, "the 67 names published on Monday by the Treasury in Yaounde are paltry, compared to the number they expected. In fact, the statement of the Minister of Finance announced the payment of the premium fund balance paid two months ago to former employees from Monday, June 8. That day, 67 names were displayed instead of nearly 3,500 names".

According to the protesters, they are surprised and do not understand anything anymore. The protesters said they need to claim the remaining nine months' arrears.

While some have been paid for three months, others say they have never seen a payment equal to three months salary. "I have received only FCFA 50,000 in September 2014," says Jean Rene Ako, one of the demonstrators.

"And even if there are issues, it's not our fault. You pay us our nine months. After all the delays by the Department it is not possible to bring out only 67 names. Hundreds of people filed applications out there," said Paul Oul.

The Yaounde Treasury paymaster general, Francis Essono, indicated that approximately FCFA 27 million will be distributed among 67 beneficiaries, pending publication in the coming days, another list is being developed.