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Abia Pensioners Appeal to Governor Otti Over Outstanding Gratuity, Pension Arrears
Abia Pensioners Appeal to Governor Otti Over Outstanding Gratuity and Pension Arrears
The Abia Pensioners’ Forum has accused the Abia State Government under Governor Alex Otti of failing to fulfil several promises concerning the payment of pension arrears and gratuity, while challenging the governor to practise what he preached when he was in opposition.
The pensioners made the allegations in an eight-page document titled “From Campaign Rhetorics to Governance Reality: The Experience of Abia State Pensioners,” issued during a press briefing.
The group revisited statements attributed to Governor Otti in an open letter to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in 2018, in which Otti had criticised the non-payment of salaries and pension arrears and called for compassion towards workers and pensioners.
According to the pensioners, Otti’s previous position makes the current situation particularly disappointing.
The group quoted Otti as saying in the 2018 letter that the failure of the government at the time to pay workers’ salaries and pension arrears was “horrendous and far reaching,” and that there was a need to “have mercy” on Abia workers and show humanity.
The pensioners said they now expect the governor to apply the same principle to them.
Pensioners list unfulfilled promises
The Abia Pensioners’ Forum alleged that several promises concerning the settlement of their outstanding benefits remain unfulfilled.
Among the promises listed by the group were commitments to clear pension and gratuity arrears by December 31, 2023, and subsequently by March 31, 2024.
The forum also alleged that another commitment concerning gratuity payments was made for the end of March 2026, followed by further dates in April, May and July 2026.
According to the pensioners, none of those deadlines has resulted in the complete settlement of the gratuity owed to them.
The group further criticised what it described as an attempt to use a purported “waiver” or “forfeiture” arrangement concerning pensioners’ retirement benefits.
It called for a review of what it described as an “obnoxious Memorandum of Agreement” allegedly entered into with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Abia State Council.
‘Gratuity has not been officially paid since 2002’
One of the strongest claims contained in the document concerns gratuity.
The pensioners alleged that gratuity was last officially paid in Abia State in 2002, describing the situation as unacceptable given the length of time involved.
They argued that the value of money owed to pensioners has significantly declined because of inflation and economic changes over the years.
The group also questioned the explanation that reconciliation between the Pensions Board and Ministry of Finance was responsible for delays in payment.
In a reference to Governor Otti’s July 2026 media chat, the pensioners said the governor stated that money for gratuity payment was available but that payment would commence in phases after the relevant records had been reconciled.
The forum questioned why the reconciliation process should delay payment to all pensioners if only a few individual cases require clarification.
According to the group, pensioners already possess authorisation letters indicating their pension and gratuity entitlements and have also undergone verification exercises conducted by the present administration.
Pensioners demand immediate payment
The pensioners urged the state government to commence immediate payment of their outstanding retirement benefits, arguing that many beneficiaries are elderly and require the money for basic needs, healthcare and other expenses.
The group claimed that some pensioners have died without receiving their outstanding benefits.
It also compared the treatment of pensioners with payments allegedly made to former local government chairmen and councillors, questioning why those who served for shorter periods could receive their entitlements while pensioners who worked for decades allegedly remain unpaid.
The forum appealed directly to Governor Otti to show the same “mercy” and “humanity” he demanded from the previous administration.
Pension arrears remain another concern
Beyond gratuity, the pensioners said outstanding pension arrears remain a major concern.
The group alleged that 99.9 percent of pensioners who retired before the commencement of the Otti administration in 2023 are still owed pension arrears.
It claimed that payments made in March 2024 represented arrears accumulated under the present administration rather than the older arrears inherited from previous administrations.
The pensioners called for a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to verify claims surrounding the payment of pension arrears.
They said such a process would establish the facts and determine whether any pensioner had made a false claim.
‘Government is our debtor’
The forum maintained that pension and gratuity should not be treated as gifts from government but as legitimate retirement entitlements.
The pensioners argued that government, as the debtor, should not impose indefinite conditions on creditors before settling legitimate obligations.
They therefore called on the Governor to fulfil his campaign promises to pensioners and ensure that the issue of outstanding pension and gratuity payments does not become a political tool.
The statement was signed on behalf of the Abia Pensioners’ Forum by Okey Kanu, Coordinator, and Comrade Emma Onyenyiri, Secretary, alongside Emmanuel Izundu Chigbu, Gbaruko Victor Okey, Zimiro Nwokocha and Godfirst Umejiaku.
The allegations and figures contained in the pensioners’ document represent the position of the Abia Pensioners’ Forum. The document reviewed for this report does not contain a response from the Abia State Government to the allegations.