The Imo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners has expressed disappointment over the alleged neglect and failed promises of the Imo State government as regards unpaid entitlements ranging from pension arrears, gratuities and none harmonization of pensions.
At a press briefing in Owerri the Imo State capital, the Imo State Chairman
of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mr Gideon Ezeji, also debunked claims by the state government that they were paid 12 years pension arrears in 2011.
He said the non-payment of their entitlement has brought so much untold hardship on its members as most of them are bedridden following the inability to pay hospital bills.
The Union also complained of the verification exercise by the state government as a calculated attempt to delay the payment of pensioners in the state and promised to embark on a street protest if the state government doesn’t fulfill its promises.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Commissioner on IGR and Pension Matters, Vitalis Ajumbe, said the state government has commenced payment of some cadre of pensioners but the major challenge facing the government on the issue of pensioners is the accurate data of pensioners in the state which has made the government to repeat verification exercise and also introduce a new data form for proper documentation and collation.
He however appealed to the pensioners to be patient as the Okorocha-led administration is aware of their plights.
