Retired workers in Abia State, under the umbrella of the Abia Pensioners’ Forum, a recognised advocacy arm of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), have renewed their call for the prompt settlement of their unpaid gratuities and long-overdue pension arrears. Speaking in Umuahia on Wednesday during a briefing with journalists, the forum expressed deep frustration over the prolonged delay in addressing the issue, describing it as a painful burden that has worsened the living conditions of aged citizens who dedicated their productive years to serving the state. According to the group, the state government has yet to implement the findings and recommendations of a committee earlier assigned to examine the sensitive matter. This committee, set up to review the status of pension liabilities and provide solutions, had already submitted its report, but retirees lamented that no concrete steps have been taken to execute the outlined measures. The forum stressed that the persistent delay has created untold suffering for senior citizens, with many of them experiencing avoidable hardship as a result of the non-payment. Several pensioners, they noted, have tragically lost their lives, while others have fallen severely ill, unable to afford medical treatment. Some have reportedly been rendered homeless, forced into extreme survival conditions due to lack of financial support. They appealed to Governor Alex Otti to act swiftly, emphasizing that these unpaid benefits represent the lifelong entitlements of individuals who faithfully served the state. The retirees reminded the government that gratuities and pensions are constitutional rights, not privileges, and therefore deserve timely settlement. The group called on the government to honour its commitment by implementing the committee’s recommendations without further delay. They also urged the state to adopt a structured, transparent, and consistent payment plan to prevent future backlog accumulation. The pensioners reaffirmed their belief that resolving this issue will not only restore dignity to retirees but also reinforce public trust in governance and strengthen the administration’s commitment to social welfare.
