Arrears, Gratuity: Your govt falling short on promises, Abia pensioners to Otti

The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has publicly denied receiving the full payment of pension and gratuity arrears as previously promised by the state government.

The union expressed frustration, highlighting that despite repeated letters and appeals, they have not been granted an audience with Governor Alex Otti, whom they accuse of sidelining retirees in favor of other state priorities.

In a press briefing in Umuahia, NUP state chairman Elder Chukwuemeka Irondi shared that only 10 months of pension arrears from the current administration have been cleared, while 45 months of arrears from past administrations remain unsettled. Despite a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) allegedly signed between the union and the government, Irondi claims that it was forced and inaccurately indicated that pensioners had forfeited their rights to these outstanding funds.

The union has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and their national union for support, urging the Governor to honor his promises or make a clear declaration on the pension debt situation. They seek a review of the MOA, pointing to dispute resolution provisions as a basis for reassessing the agreement, as they continue to advocate for the welfare and rights of Abia State retirees.

The union said; “Governor Alex Otti promised to clear all outstanding pension arrears owed to retirees by December 2023.

“However, a verification exercise later revealed that the amount required far exceeded initial estimates, jumping from N10 billion to N30 billion. The Governor proposed a new template for payment, offering percentages based on the arrears owed, but the union requested revisions, seeking a higher payout for pensioners.

“A series of meetings between the NUP executive and government officials followed, with no clear resolutions.”

The union expressed disappointment in the handling of the pension matter and accused the state government of dishonesty, and attempting to persuade pensioners into waiving their legitimate entitlements.