Retirees under the aegis of Abia Pensioners’ Forum have called on Governor Alex Otti to walk the talk by fulfilling his pledge to clear the arrears of pensions and gratuities owed Abia pensioners.
Addressing Newsmen in Umuahia on Monday on behalf of the group, the coordinator, Okey Kanu noted that the non-payment of outstanding pension arrears and gratuities has resulted in what he described as the prolonged hardship being experienced by retired workers.
The forum made it clear that pension arrears stood at as much as 60 months for some pensioners as of May 2023, depending on their year of retirement, while gratuity, had not been officially paid in the state since 2002.
While pointing out that pension and gratuity were not gifts from government but legitimate retirement benefits earned through years of service, the Abia Pensioners’ Forum recalled that Governor Otti, during his election campaigns, made commitments to address outstanding pension and gratuity obligations inherited from previous administrations.
They cited Section 210 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, arguing that pensioners were constitutionally entitled to their benefits and that pensions should be reviewed periodically alongside civil service salaries.
The group criticized the Abia State government for prioritizing the clearing ofthe allowances and other benefits owed former Councillors and local government Chairmen in the State who served the previous administrations in the State for only two years above senior citizens who sacrificed for the State with their lives.
While calling on Governor Alex Otti to quickly act on his promises, the body revealed that some pensioners have fallen sick or died without receiving their pension arrears and gratuities under the present administration.
According to the coordinator of the group, “Those still alive need this payment to feed, buy drugs and attend to other subsistent needs and health challenges,” he noted.
He insisted that not all pension arrears inherited from the previous administration had been cleared by the present administration and vowed that its members would not forfeit any of its gratuities to the Abia State government.
Recalling that Governor Otti had strongly criticised the immediate past administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu over the non-payment of workers’ salaries, pensions and gratuities, the body pointed out that Governor Otti had in an open letter to Ikpeazu published in Nigerian newspapers in July 2018, roundly condemned the hardship caused by unpaid salaries and pension arrears.
“We are not asking the government to give us anything. We are asking for what is due to us,” the forum said.
The pensioners, however, acknowledged the regular payment of monthly pensions by the present administration, but appealed to Governor Otti to have mercy and show humanity by considering the plight of pensioners and taking immediate steps to settle their legitimate entitlements.
