Pensioners in Imo State, under the aegis of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) Imo State Chapter, have given the Imo State government a 14-day notice to clear their six month- pension arrears.
NUP Imo State chapter chairman, Mr Gideon Ezeji, who gave the ultimatum, Wednesday at the headquarters of the union in Owerri, the state capital, described the new plan by state governor Rochas Okorocha and the government to start new verification of pension payment as ‘unrealistic and a delay tactics to defer their payment.’
He noted that apart from the civil pensioners in the state, the Imo State Government should commence speedy payment of 18 months pension arrears of retired primary school teachers, who had sacrificed greater part of their youthful age to impart knowledge on the populace.
The Union further appealed to the State Government to immediately pay pensioners in the state from the Federal Government Intervention Fund made available by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a respect for the senior citizens.
The development comes on the heels of appeals by Secretary to the Imo State Government, Jude Ejiogu, who urged the pensioners in the state to be patient with the government, as their ‘plight remained utmost in the mind of the State government.’
He also explained that the verification process was part of measures to check ghost pensioners, which had become a major issue in the payment of pensioners.
