South East breaking News
A Pressure Group by name Abia Pensioners’ Forum has called on the Governor of Abia State,Dr Alex Otti to fulfill the promises he made to Pensioners during his electioneering campaigns,as well as set up a judicial panel of inquiry to verify the alleged payment of Pensioners in Abia to find out the true position of pensioners in the State as well as fish out any pensioner who makes a false claim in regards to payment of pensions and gratuities in the State.
The Coordinator of Abia Pensioners’ Forum,Okey Kanu ESQ, who made this known to Journalists during a joint Media Briefing on Monday,10th August,2026,held at Roots Restaurant Umuahia, said the Governor has refused to fulfill the promises made to them during his electioneering campaigns in 2015,2019 and 2023.
He disclosed, ” That as at May ,2023,arrears of pension were as high as 60 months , depending on the year of retirement; and that gratuity was officially paid last in the State as far back as 2002 are also no news”
The Pressure Group Coordinator, explained that the leadership of their parent body Nigeria Union of Pensioners Abia State Council, which is the legitimate body to speak for the pensioners has remained mute for a long time, adding that his group will not continue to remain quiet while Pensioners in the State are suffering.
He said,” Governor Alex Otti did not only promise to clear these retirement benefits if elected into office,he ,in addition,did not spare Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of very severe criticism for lacking empathy on pensioners and for sending them to their early grave for failure to pay them.
” Indeed,in his open letter to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as published in the Daily post Newspaper of 12th July, 2018 , Sunday Sunday Newspaper of 15th July ,2018 and Sunday Vanguard Newspaper of 15th July,2018, Governor Alex Otti roundly deprecated,condemned ,lambasted and decried Governor Okezie of failing to make use of the Paris Club Refund and Bailout Fund,as made available by the Federal government to offset these retirement benefits”
Kanu stressed that these 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, saying that these retirement benefits are not mere gratis from Government,rather “deductions from our remuneration while still in the active service of Abia State Government expected to be paid back to us as pension and gratuity upon retirement”
He also accused government of refusing to pay Pensioners allowance arising from subsidy removed aimed at cushioning the effect of subsidy removal, adding that,” there was 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.
” Thus ,the meagre monthly pension has remained as it was since more than 20 years ago. It explains why some Pensioners as at today receive as little as N2000 as monthly pension “
He explained that Abia Pensioners’Forum has adopted verbatim the treatise of Governor Alex Otti to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. ” All the points raised therein are germane and more relevant today than in 2018 when the letter was written to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu “
The Group, expressed appreciation to Governor Alex Otti for the regular payment of their monthly pension, however outlined sad experiences of pensioners as ,” Unfulfilled promise to clear the arrears and gratuity on or before 31st December,2023, Unfulfilled promise to clear same on or before 31st March,2024, Attempt to deliberately deny pensioners their arrears of pension and gratuity via a purported and unlawful “waiver” or forfeiture ” of these retirement benefits to Government sequel to an obnoxious Memorandum of Agreement surreptitiously signed with the leadership of Nigeria Union of Pensioners,Abia Council; Unfulfilled promise on 22nd February,2025 to revisit the obnoxious Memorandum of Agreement; Erroneous assertion in his Media Chat of September,2025 that no pensioner in Abia State is owed arrears of pension when the Governor has refused to clear same as inherited from past administrations and on which he campaigned; Unfulfilled promise to pay the gratuity on or before the end of March,2026, Unfulfilled promise to pay the gratuity on or before the end of April,2026, Unfulfilled promise to pay the gratuity on or before the end of May,2026 ; Unfulfilled promise to pay the gratuity on or before the end of July,2026″
