Re: Abia pension arrears promise: pensioners hopeful of full payment by government

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Following the recent comments by governor Alex Otti on the pension arrears of retirees in the state, the pension have expressed hope that the governor lives up to his words.

Governor Otti had at a church Thanksgiving service of senator Chris Adighije at the F.M.C chapel in Umuahia recently announced that he will take another look at the arrears.

Although the current government in Abia state claims it has defrayed the arrears they met upon assumption of office citing a memorandum of agreement entered into with the state executive of the Nigeria union of pensioners, the members have consistently denied the claim.

The governor had promised to clear all arrears upon assumption of office while campaigning.

The state chairman, Mr. Chukwuemeka Irondi however said the union still had so much regard for him because of his consistency in payment of their pension since assumption of office.

He said the governor only offset his own part of the arrears which he incurred.

In an exclusive interview with CSUNews at the pension house, in Nkata, Umuahia, Mr. Irondi said despite the manner the governor had described them, they believe in his capacity to do the right thing.

He denied any personal fight with the governor saying that, “we did not ask for too much or the allocation of the state, we are only demanding for our pension to be paid. That has been our demand, that has been our request.”

He revealed that the intervention of the national leadership of the union few days ago also helped to present their case in the best way to the government officials who represented the government.

According to him, the national president with about fourteen other executive members visited the state and demanded to see the governor on the pension arrears issues.

He said the national leaders faulted the alleged memorandum of agreement which they said contravened the position of the constitution on pension.

Mr. Irondi said governor Alex Otti had been the only governor who came into office and wiped their tears by constant payment.

On their gratuities, he said, Abia state government last paid bulk gratuities in 2002 and called on government to look into the matter.