Abia pensioners, under the aegis of Abia Pensioners’ Forum, have called on Governor Alex Otti to fulfill his 2023 campaign promises by paying their arrears of pension and gratuity which they said he promised to clear if he became governor.

The pensioners made the call in Umuahia, yesterday, through their co-ordinator, Okey Kanu, while addressing newsmen over their plight.

The pensioners said Governor Otti, during his electioneering campaigns in 2015, 2019, and 2023, respectfully, repeatedly promised to clear the arrears of pension and gratuity of Abia State pensioners if elected into office.

“As at May 2023, arrears of pension were as high as 60 months, depending on the year of retirement; and gratuity was officially paid last in the state as far back as 2002.

“Governor Alex Otti did not only promise to clear these retirement benefits if elected into office, he, in addition, did not spare former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of very severe criticism for lacking empathy on pensioners, and for sending them to their early grave by failure to pay them”.

The retirees said if, in 2018, pensioners were subjected to “…untimely and avoidable deaths….”, referring to Otti’s letter to Ikpeazu then, “in 2026 they are buried alive due to the spiral effect of subsidy removal and other excruciating economic factors”.

The pensioners said apart from Otti paying them arrears of pension his administration owed, and regular payment of monthly pension, that the governor has failed to pay other accumulated pensions and gratuity which they said he promised to pay them.

“Suffice it to say that as at today, 99.9% of pensioners who retired before the inception of this administration in 2023 are still owed their arrears of pension. What this administration paid in March 2024 was her own arrears from June 2023 to March 2024 when she paid only half monthly pension”.

Kanu reminded Otti that the retirement benefits are the constitutional rights of each pensioner, pursuant to Section 210 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

“These retirement benefits are not mere grants from the government. Indeed, they are deductions from our remuneration while still in the active service of the Abia State government and are expected to be paid back to us as pension and gratuity upon retirement”.

On whether it was paucity of funds that prevented government from paying them, Kanu dismissed that saying why he wouldn’t want to bandy figures of Abia’s statutory monthly allocations, he was aware the state has enough funds to offset the arrears.

“Sequel to subsidy removal, the monthly statutory allocation to states increased by more than 500 percent. Till date, pensioners were not paid the allowance arising from subsidy removal aimed at cushioning its effect.

“Also, there was a minimum wage review in 2023 arising from the subsidy removal, but pensioners in the state were not remembered. Indeed, Section 210 (3) of the Constitution, provides that: ‘Pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any state civil service salary reviews, whichever is earlier.

“The meagre monthly pension has remained as it was since more than 20 years ago. It explains why some pensioners as of today receive as little as N2,000 as monthly pension”, Kanu stated.

While urging Otti to practice what he preached, the pensioners said, “The Bible enjoins us to practice what we preach. It is very disappointing and, indeed, an anti-climax that more than three years into his administration, Governor Alex Otti has deliberately and consistently refused to practice what he preached to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu concerning the plight of pensioners in the state, and the latter’s lack of empathy.

The pensioners said if Otti could pay political office holders their entitlements, he should also muster the political will to pay their retirement benefits. (The Sun)