A group known for sometime now as Abia Pensioners’ Forum has advised the state government, as a matter of transparency, to publish the names and amounts already paid to 2001-2010 gratuities beneficiaries, as contained in their authorization letters.
The group in a statement dated September 21, 2026, signed by its Coordinator, Okey Kanu, and Secretary, Emma Onyenyiri, the Forum while appreciating Governor Alex Otti for summoning the political will to begin payment for those who retired between 2001 and 2010, alleged that more than half of their members in the batch had not been paid one month after commencement, while those paid received less than their full entitlement, with some recording shortfalls of over N100,000.
The forum also alleged that the desk office established by government to receive complaints from pensioners in the 2001-2010 batch is not functional, regretting that elderly pensioners with some issues to be sorted out are being tossed between the Office of the Head of Service and that of the of the Accountant-General.
The body further warned against any plan to stretch the gratuity payment to 2031, arguing that staggered payment creates uncertainty, erodes value, and could mean many pensioners may not live to receive their benefits.
While reminding Governor Otti of his open letter to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in 2018 where he lamented deaths of pensioners over unpaid benefits, the forum made it clear that following increased and improved federal allocations following fuel subsidy removal, Abia state government has enough resources to pay at once.
It therefore appealed to the state government to show empathy by paying up promptly.
