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Pensioners from five parastatals in Abia State have appealed to Governor Alex Otti to urgently pay 13 months of pension arrears they say are owed by his administration.
The appeal was contained in a letter jointly signed and made available to Daily Sun by the Chairman of the association, Comrade Chinkwe Ikenyi (JP), and Secretary, Chief Ikoro John Ikoro.
The retirees, drawn from the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA), Abia Newspapers, Abia State Council for Arts and Culture, Abia State Housing and Property Development Corporation, and Umuahia Capital Development Authority, said they have endured severe hardship due to the unpaid pensions.
The pensioners noted that the affected parastatals are duly gazetted and recognised as pensionable under the Abia State Government.
They recalled that payment of their pensions was stopped in December 2023 over concerns about verification.
According to them, they subsequently submitted necessary documents in June 2024 to confirm their status, leading to a verification exercise approved by the governor.
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The group added that pension payments eventually resumed in January 2025 and have since been regular.
While commending the government for restoring monthly payments, the retirees stressed that the 13-month arrears remain unpaid, leaving many in financial distress.
“The non-payment brought untold hardship in the face of rising inflation, heavy debts to creditors and inability to meet healthcare needs,” the pensioners said, adding that 13 of their members died during the period.
They also expressed concern over what they described as unequal treatment, noting that pensioners from government ministries with similar status had their arrears cleared by the state government.
The group urged the governor to place them on equal footing by settling the outstanding arrears before the payment of gratuities.
They further appealed for compassion, reminding the governor of their support during the 2023 elections and expressing hope that their demands would be addressed promptly.
