By TINA TIMOTHY

The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has accused Abia State government of breaching the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from 2002 till date, by stopping payment of gratuity to retired workers of the state.

According to FENRAD, the state stopped paying gratuities 20 years, in 2002. This, the group, said, was “condemnable” and “worrisome,” considering “the excruciating economic hardship of the day.”

In a statement released on Workers Day, May 1, 2022, and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor; and Head, Corporate Accountability & Human Rights Enforcement, Barr. Femisi Akande, FENRAD insists that “pensionable citizens deserve their pay and perquisite, having toiled and labored.”

The statement partly reads: “It has come to the notice of Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, a pro-democracy and environmental rights advocacy group, that pensioners in Abia State took to the streets in Umuahia to drive home their demand which is connected with non-payment of pensions. This is not only condemnable but worrisome, given the excruciating economic hardship of the day.

“According to news reports obtained, reviewed and analysed by FENRAD, the outstanding pension to Abia retired and senior citizens is in arrears of thirty-eight (38) months. It is painful that senior citizens who exhausted their prime in service to their state are not pensioned for a period of three years and two months now. FENRAD is more alarmed that Abia State stopped payment of gratuity to her old citizens since 2002; that's 20 years ago! This casts serious doubt on the issue of salary and allowance payments to state workers, and on whether the state can actually pay the minimum wage at N30,000.

“Sadly, within the intervening years (since 2002), Abia has had Governors Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Ahamefula Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu (still incumbent) and yet the issue of gratuity remains unresolved as of yet. This represents flagrant abuse of ‘right to work and receive commensurate payment’ retired citizens of Abia should have access to, as enshrined in the 1999 constitution (as amended). The meaning of this, in a constitutional sense, is that Abia State has remained in breach of the constitution of the federation from 2002 to date even when its revenues – both independent and statutory – never ceased flowing. This, FENRAD says, is an illegality against all known international labour laws, protocols and instruments binding on Abia as a part of Nigerian state; a point of law a layman can assert!”

Consequently, the pro-democracy and environmental rights advocacy group called on the incumbent Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, though inherited the huge part of the problem, to urgently carry ‘out massive reforms in the pension and gratuity sector’ in order to implement payment to these pensioners ‘some of whom are now demented, dependent, invalid, aged and, of course, impoverished.’

The statement continues: “Having stated this, FENRAD urges the state government to go one better by beginning the process of carrying out massive reforms in the pension and gratuity sector as it is not acceptable to have ghost employees (retired or active) in the state's payroll drain lean state resources. This concern addresses the Ministry/Minister of Finance in particular.

“While it is indeed true that a huge part of this problem preceded the administration of Governor Ikpeazu who only inherited it, the governor who has vowed to begin implementation of payment, FENRAD maintains, must be considerate with Abia pensioners some of whom are now demented, dependent, invalid, aged and, of course, impoverished. These pensioners need their pay to manage their old age and challenges that come with that, especially in this era when the nation faces sharp rise in inflation rate amid purchasing power decline, accompanied by skyrocketing price of foodstuffs.

“FENRAD believes in the ability of the state government to reverse the trend and up the ante by launching far-reaching reforms capable of harmonizing all pension issues and outstanding arrears. The Foundation wishes the state government godspeed in this venture, but should the problem continue unabated, the Foundation will, in solidarity, join the pensioners, take actions where necessary, including the legal measure. May the labours of our heroes (pensioners) not be in vain.”

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