By UZOMA ISIAKPU
The contentious disagreement between the Abia State Government and the Executive of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Abia State Chapter over the forefeiture of gratuity by retired civil servants has resonated far and wide. Indeed, the dispute has been a cause of serious concern to many in and outside the state since the executive of NUP addressed a press conference on Thursday, October 28, 2024, on the execution of the purported Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday, March 25, 2024, by the government and the union.
The controversy seems to have reached a deadlock. While the state government is tenaciously holding onto the validity of the said agreement reached with NUP executive, the leadership of the union is contending that the term forefeiture in the MOU is extraneous as there was never a time gratuity was mentioned let alone discussed in their previous meetings with Governor Alex Chioma Otti on Wednesday, August 9, and Sunday, December 31, 2023 respectively.
Based on the foregoing, NUP executive is demanding that the obnoxious forefeiture clause be expunged to pave way for the payment of gratuity to retired Abia civil servants. The Abia state government is however unyielding to the demand, insisting that the request is unjustified. The unbending posture of the government on the palaver came to light during a recent edition of the monthly media interaction of Governor Alex Otti with journalists at the Government House, Umuahia. Unambiguously, the Governor who dubbed NUP executive “dishonest,” said that his administration is not revisiting the matter.
To a great extent, the state government cannot be faulted. The argument of NUP executive that they “discovered to their utter disbelief and consternation that they had been cheated,” after endorsement of the MOU is puerile, groundless, unacceptable and imponderable. How could it be that they signed the document under duress? Even if as they alleged that the former Commissioner for Finance, Michael Akpara led government negotiators ill-treated and subjected the NUP team headed by its Secretary, Elder Uma E. Kalu to long and tortuous waiting, why for God’s sake did they not storm out of the meeting in protest after more than seven hours?
If the NUP executive had suspected foul play on the part of the government negotiators as they rightly pointed out, the ideal, reasonable and honourable option would have been to excuse themselves from the meeting. Or is Elder Uma Kalu and his fellow comrades saying that Michael Akpara barricaded his office with security operatives which prevented them from walking out?
Again and more importantly, was it not preposterous that as seasoned union leaders with vast Civil Service experience, that Elder Uma Kalu and his team endorsed such a sensitive document which is central to the welfare of senior citizens without studiously perusing it page by page?
The fact of the matter is that between the state government and NUP executive, officials of the union from what the rational mind can deduce is economical with the truth. They should tell the public what actually happened. Their narrative that “the union’s letter headed paper was trickishly requested for and collected and that they innocently endorsed the MOU on trust.” is logically inconsistent with quality reasoning.
However, in as much as the NUP executive should be held liable for their foolery, Governor Alex Otti should have a rethink on the contested MOU in the overall interest of majority of Abia pensioners who were not part of the suspicious deal. The reason for such a humane action cannot be overemphasized. Payment of gratuity is the statutory right of every Civil Servant who retired meritoriously for the Civil Service. The Dr. Alex Otti led government as a responsible one should look at the issue from that perspective and accordingly discharge its responsibility.
For a government that is widely acclaimed to be doing very well and its uncommon accomplishments spreading abroad, payment of gratuity to retirees will certainly add to the scale of achievements. The settlement of retirement entitlements will not only further bolster the image and support base of the present administration, but will enhance its future electoral fortune.
As the father figure of all Abia pensioners, Governor Alex Otti should be empathetic to their plight by rescinding his decision on gratuity following the face-off with the state executive of NUP. As with the full and prompt payment of monthly pension for which pensioners are grateful, the Governor ought to give immediate attention to the payment of gratuity kick-starting the process with Permanent Secretaries and Directors abruptly retired from the State Civil Service in October 31, 2023.
Posterity will eternally remember Governor Alex Otti and his administration for effecting the desirable which was long abandoned. Gratuity in the hand of pensioners is a guaranteed catalyst to the economic growth of the state as many of the senior citizens are wont to invest their earnings in small scale enterprises. The implication of such a healthy development are two fold. It will boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state as the probable new business ventures will pay rate to the state government. The new business concerns will equally help in generating employment thereby reducing joblessness. Kudos to Governor Alex Otti for changing the ugly story of the past and putting Abia state in the league of states that pay gratuity.
UZOMA ISIAKPU is a Media/Public Relations Consultant.
