From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
A political pressure group in Abia State, Soldier Ants Grassroots Movement (SAGM) has lauded Governor Alex Otti over his decision to revisit the agreement the state government had with pensioners over payment of their pension arrears.
There was a sharp disagreement between Abia Government officials and the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Abia chapter shortly after government announced it had through an agreement reached with the retired workers, offset the arrears of pensions owed them by previous administrations.
The leadership of the pensioners countered this, saying they signed the Memorandum of Agreement, which the government said they relied upon, under duress.
However, during an event in Umuahia recently, Governor Alex Otti promised to revisit the deal to right any wrong arising from the previous agreement.
Commending Otti for promising to take a second look at the agreement, the coordinator of SAGM, Chief Ikechukwu Ijoma (Starpoint) said by this, Otti has proved he is a Governor with listening ears.
Ijoma, who made the commendation during an appraisal meeting of the group, said with the latest move by the Otti administration, the pensioners who had suffered over the years as a result of non-payment of their pensions by past administrations will have a sigh of relief.
He equally commended Otti for doing wonderfully well in the past 22 months he has been in the saddle as governor of Abia State and called for support from all Abians.
“We are urging every Abian to support the present administration which has transformed the state just after about 22 months in office, beyond people’s imagination.
“If we must say the truth, the state has not had it good for a very long time, look at the road infrastructure and other credible developments Governor Otti is bringing to the state, and we cannot but come out en mass to show him we are happy for what he is doing.
“What the Otti administration is doing in Aba and other parts of the state is unprecedented. Take for instance what he is doing on Port Harcourt that was left impassable over the years.”
He said it was heartening that Otti was living up to his electioneering promises, stressing that should this continue, Abia will take its rightful place among the comity of states.
“There is nothing Governor Otti promised he will do the electioneering he has not done or started doing, from roads infrastructure to the timely payment of worker salary and pension, for pensioners and he deserves our support.”
Ijoma commended the Governor for finding a member of the group, Emmanuel Nwaeze Oti to be the state chairman of Labour Party.
He equally lauded members of the group for their support for Otti since 2015 and urged them to remain steadfast in their support for the Governor’s second term, assuring them of good things to come.