Pensioners in Imo State have again cried out, lamenting non -payment of their pensions by the Imo State Government.
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They described their plight as “passing through excruciating and traumatizing coma caused by the insensitivity of the present administration”
In his address by the Imo State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Nwokedi Donatus at the birthday ceremony of Owerri based fiery critic Prof. Protus Nathan Uzorma in Owerri, he said from January 2017 to March 5, 2018, the Imo State Government paid pensioners in the state only three months pensions.
“ As at this moment, many pensioners are still carrying the cheques for the three months- not cashed. There is no state in the federation where pensioners are owed gratuities from 1998” he said
Donatus revealed that since the inception of the present administration no pensioner whose gratuity is above N500, 000 has been paid his/her gratuity.
“ The Pensioners in Imo State have remained on the same pension rate since 2000 because the Imo State government has refused to harmonize the following pension increases (a) 6% of 2003, (B) 15% of 2007 and (C) 33% of 2010.
“ As if the sufferings on Imo pensioners is not enough, the Imo State Government in 2016 issued a form that cut the pensions of Imo pensioners by 60% . This inhuman treatment of paying Imo pensioners 40% forced us into the streets to protest against the injustice on three occasions”
“When the Imo State Government refused to withdraw the illegal policy, the pensioners under the free legal aid of the Nigeria Bar Association went to the National Industrial Court to seek justice. Our plea was granted and the court ordered Imo State government to pay Imo State pensioners 100% of their pensions. As of today, the Imo State government has refused to implement the Court order” he stated
He appealed to the government to obey the Court order, pay 100% of pensions and clear all arrears of pensions and gratuities as well as harmonize all the pension increases granted by the Federal Government since 2003.