We will not forfeit our entitlements to Abia govt — pensioners

Abia State pensioners warned Governor Alex Otti on Monday that they would not forfeit their entitled benefits, insisting that the government fulfill its campaign promises. The Abia Pensioners Forum issued the warning to journalists in Umuahia, criticizing the state government's continued neglect of pensioners. Their Coordinator, Okey Kanu, accused Otti of reneging on a previous agreement to liquidate pension and gratuity arrears.

The pensioners recalled the governor's election promises in 2015, 2019, and 2023, stating that his response to a pensioner's question about gratuity payment by the end of July 2026 left them disheartened. They urged the government to start immediate payment of retirement benefits, even if they begin with gratuity payments. The pensioners dismissed claims that the inherited arrears had been cleared, emphasizing that many pensioners have already died without receiving their benefits.

They also criticized the administration for paying only former Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, while pensioners, who served for 35 years or more, are treated with "levity, disdain and ignominy." The pensioners appealed to the governor to fulfill his campaign promises for Abia pensioners and to ensure that their pension and gratuity arrears issues are not exploited for political gains.