Abia pensioners on Monday, begged Governor Alex Otti, urging him to clear the backlog of gratuity arrears owed to retirees in the state.
Led by the Chairman of the Concerned Abia Pensioners, Elder John Kalu, they acknowledged that the debts were inherited from previous administrations but requested that the governor extend his compassionate approach to this issue, as he has done with salary arrears.
During a press briefing in Umuahia, the pensioners emphasized their willingness to accept instalment payments to ease the financial burden.
Thhe group’s secretary, Comrade Stanley Ibekwe, expressed gratitude for the governor’s commitment to regular and full pension payments.
He also apologized for what he described as false narratives propagated by the state’s leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners.
“While we have been advocating for Abia pensioners over the years, we unequivocally apologise to our governor for the unprovoked distortions, disinformation, and misrepresentations against him and his government by the NUP,” said Ibekwe.
The pensioners reiterated the significance of gratuity as a reward for decades of public service, appealing for the governor’s intervention.
“We appeal to him to reconsider the issue of gratuity and ensure that, though these arrears were not incurred by his government, he extends his compassionate intervention by clearing them, as he has with salary arrears, even if done in instalments. This is because gratuity is the essence of public service, and no one should be deprived of it after 35 years of service or upon reaching the age of 60,” Ibekwe added.
They also criticized the NUP leadership, accusing them of acting out of political motives and calling for a public apology to the governor and Abians.
Ibekwe questioned their silence during the previous administration’s tenure despite the accumulated debts.
“Why did the NUP remain silent for years and support the PDP government, which owed our members, only to turn around and attack, vilify, and spread lies about the current government? This government has cleared a substantial portion of the pension arrears owed by the previous administration and has started paying pensions regularly and in full,” Ibekwe stated.
He also highlighted how the NUP leadership had barred members from accessing their meeting hall, forcing them to convene outdoors.
“This action forced us to hold our meetings outside, under the sun, and this is verifiable,” he concluded.
