Pensioners in Imo State have called on Governor Rochas Okorocha to settle all arrears of pension before the Christmas.
A statement issued by the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Owerri after the 2015 Pensioners Day regretted that after the recent verification by the government, more than 70 per cent of the pensioners were yet to receive their pay.
The statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary, Chief Gideon Ezeji and Mr Livinus Asiegbu respectively, appealed to Okorocha to restore the pensions of retired primary school teachers.
“Gov. Okorocha recently announced that the government set aside N5.7 billion to clear pension arrears owed Imo pensioners but majority of the pensioners are yet to be paid.
“If you visit any of the local government areas and see the number of pensioners yet to be verified, you will agree with me that government still needs to do more. The state governor should take immediate action to harmonise the pensioners based on the 6 per cent of 2003, 15 per cent of 2007, and 33 per cent of 2011,’’ the statement said.
It lamented that pensioners who were verified on Nov. 30 were yet to be paid and called on the governor to step up actions at paying them.
“The NUP unanimously rejected the proposal to spread the arrears of pensions to 36 months and called on the government to clear the arrears,’’ the statement noted.
The union threatened that it might engage the services of human rights lawyers to ensure that all Imo pensioners got their outstanding arrears.
It resolved to hold monthly prayer summits in all the 27 local government areas to seek the face of God over the failure of the government to clear the pension arrears.
