{
  "id": 8009007,
  "title": "Cross River retirees lament 12-year pension freeze, beg Otu for review",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/cross-river-retirees-lament-12-year-pension-freeze-beg-otu-for-review",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T10:32:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/17/cross-river-retirees-lament-12-year-pension-freeze-beg-otu-for-review/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pensioners and retirees from Cross River State Government have petitioned Governor Bassey Otu to reassess and synchronize their pensions with the current national minimum wage. The retirees noted that their pension payments were last adjusted in 2014, despite the Federal Government's three subsequent increases in the minimum wage. Dr Daniel Effiong, the Chairman of the Cross River State Retirees Association, and Frank Odey, the association's Public Relations Officer, voiced their concerns during a programme on Sparkling FM. Effiong disclosed that some retirees are receiving as low as N4,000 per month, which he deemed insufficient to cover essential expenses like food and medication. He also alleged that numerous retired state workers have not received their gratuities for years after leaving service.\n\nEffiong called for Governor Otu's intervention to harmonize pensions in the state, acknowledging that the last review occurred in 2014. Many retirees have not received their gratuities or regular monthly pensions despite being screened. However, he commended Otu for promising to release another tranche of gratuity payments before December, following the N10 billion the state government disbursed about two years ago. He emphasized that the previous payment was inadequate, as many retirees are still awaiting their entitlements. Effiong highlighted that the failure to adjust pensions in line with rising living costs has left many elderly retirees struggling to survive, with some even passing away. He mentioned that those without investments, children, or alternative income sources are particularly vulnerable to this issue.\n\nEffiong pointed out that successive governments have consistently promised to address the pension problem but failed to resolve it. He suggested that if former Governor Ben Ayade had initiated effective action, it would have been easier for his successor, Governor Otu. Odey disagreed with the idea of establishing another committee to handle pension payments, asserting that it could further delay the process. He argued that the offices of the Auditor-General and Accountant-General are constitutionally empowered to manage pension payments, making it unnecessary to set up an additional committee. Odey also urged for consequential adjustments to pensions and gratuities, citing the continuous decline in the value of the naira, which has significantly eroded retirees' purchasing power. He praised Governor Otu for maintaining regular monthly pension payments but urged him to review the pensions upward to reflect current economic realities.",
  "summary": "Pensioners and other retirees from the Cross River State Government have appealed to Governor Bassey Otu to review and harmonise their pensions with the current national minimum wage. The retirees said their pensions were last reviewed in 2014, despite three increases in the national minimum wage by the Federal Government since then. Chairman of the […] Cross River retirees lament 12-year pension…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}