Abia Pensioners’ Forum, a pressure group under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Abia State, has lamented the continued delay in the payment of gratuities and pension arrears for retirees in the state, saying that some pensioners have died, fallen sick, or become homeless because of the situation.
The group stated this in Umuahia on Wednesday while speaking to journalists, noting that the state government was yet to implement the report of a committee set up to review the critical matter, even after the report was submitted.
The coordinator of the group, Okey Kanu, who spoke on behalf of the members, reiterated that they will never forfeit their gratuities and pension arrears to the state government, insisting that the money is their constitutional right and not a favour from anybody.
Kanu, who described the delay as ‘inordinate,’ said that the current administration of Governor Alex Otti only paid ten months of pension arrears accumulated between June 2023 and March 2024 without addressing the outstanding arrears inherited from the previous Abia administration.
The coordinator of the Abia Pensioners’ Forum said it was wrong for the state government to claim that pensioners voluntarily forfeited their gratuities and pension arrears based on a controversial Memorandum of Agreement with NUP leadership in Abia.
“With each passing month, more pensioners fall into worsening health, depression, and, in some cases, death without receiving the reward for their 35 years of service or reaching the age of 60 years of service.
“It is equally an injustice to allow this to continue,” he said.
Abia retirees noted that their large votes contributed immensely to Governor Otti’s victory in 2023, based on his earlier campaign promises to clear their unpaid pensions and gratuities if elected.
They, however, acknowledged the governor’s achievements in infrastructure but stressed that they should be paid all their entitlements so that they can be alive to enjoy the infrastructure.