…As Uzodinma promises not to owe Imo workers, pensioners
Retirees in Anambra State have threatened to embark on hunger strike if the government fails to pay their gratuities.
According to them, the government owes them four years arrears. They lamented that the situation is killing them slowly.
Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Mr. Anthony Ugozor, said the retirees would meet early next year to take a decision on the matter.
Obiano
He said: “We don’t know what again to do. We are longer in active service and so the government is treating our matter with levity because it knows we can no longer embark on industrial dispute.
“We may consider hunger strike after our meeting. The only problem we may have is whether it will be detrimental to our health at our age. But members will decide that at our meeting.
“I got my December pension before Christmas. We thank Governor Willie Obiano for that; he pays pension regularly.
“But pension is not all that we need. We are dying in piecemeal; the governor should pay our gratuities. That was what I said a few days ago that attracted unfair comments against me from government’s officials. “They were not comfortable with my comment but what I said was the truth. There are arrears of four years of gratuities because payment stopped in 2017. No retiree from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 has gotten gratuity.
“Harmonisation of pension has not been done since 2010, despite the fact that we’re contacting with government. We’ve been discussing with them; writing to them; even at official state functions, I would include such demands in my official addresses.
“Paying pension as and when due will not stop me from talking about other entitlements of pensioners which the governor is not paying…”
But it is a different ball game in Imo State, where Governor Hope Uzodinma has promised not to owe workers, pensioners or local government workers their salaries, pensions or entitlements.
Uzodinma said he made a covenant with God to sincerely serve the people, and would be committed to the promise throughout his tenure.
Uzodinma
He spoke during the Christmas Day Mass at his home Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Omuma, Oru East Local Government Area.
The governor recalled events that brought him into politics, the governorship election, and reclaiming of his mandate at the Supreme Court. He noted that ‘the people of Omuma have many reasons to be grateful to God for making one of their own the governor’.
Uzodinma said his desire to govern Imo was predicated on ‘the will of God’, insisting that he has never ventured into anything without first seeking God’s direction, the reason he was able to overcome the challenges towards becoming governor.
The governor also said contrary to perception, he discovered that the problem of Imo is more with the civil service system than the politicians. He regretted that massive corruption was the order of the day in the civil service when he assumed office.
Governor Uzodinma said relying on automation, 43,000 workers and 21,000 pensioners had gotten their salaries and pensions up to date. He maintained that those who have not been paid have issues with accurate bio-data or those receiving double salaries or pensions.
The governor challenged those claiming to be owed to approach the data centre with their pension identification number and relevant details so their status will be revealed and payment effected.
He also promised to publish, by January 2, 2020, details of all workers and pensioners who have passed the automation process and have been receiving their entitlements till date so that those still in doubt will know how serious the government is with the automation.