Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti says his administration is committed to addressing the long-standing gratuity liabilities dating back to 2001 owed pensions by previous administrations.
Governor Otti stated this on Friday, during the November Edition of the Monthly Media Parley, tagged “Governor Otti Speaks”, held at the Banquet Hall, Government House Umuahia.
The Governor revealed that the Committee set up between the National Body of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) and members of his administration has handed the report on outstanding gratuities.
He said that the Committee’s work was part of a renewed effort to reassess the backlog of gratuities following earlier appeals from Pensioners.
“The Committee that we set up between the National Body of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and members of the administration has just handed their report about outstanding gratuities.
“If you recall, after appeals had been made, we decided to look at it again and we have done that”, Governor Otti said.
The Governor disclosed that following the report of the Committee, verified outstanding gratuities owed pensioners by previous administrations dating as far back as 2001 now exceed ₦60 billion.
Governor Otti described the findings as “disheartening,” noting that arrears of gratuity owed pensioners in the State have remained unpaid for over two decades.
“It is disheartening that pensions have remained outstanding since 2001. The total verified outstanding pensions is in excess of 60 billion Naira. That is a large number.
“These are debts incurred dating back to over 20 years ago. We have always maintained that the government is a continum. Whatever you hand over, you deal with it.
“If it is assets, if it is liability, you pick all of them. We are unafraid to work out a solution”, Gov Otti said.
The Governor stated that the his administration would soon announce a decision on how to address the liability, hinting strongly at a phased payment plan.
“One thing I would like to assure the pensioners is that their gratuity will be paid gradually. The way my mind is working is that we will have to begin the payment gradually”, Governor Otti said.
The Governor assured Workers and Pensioners in the State that his administration would continue to prioritise their salaries, pensions, and gratuities adding that the State Government is up to date on payment of salaries.
Governor Otti who also addressed the issue regarding the payment of newly recruited teachers promised that all those affected would receive their salaries by the end of the weekend.
He assured prospective Teachers and Medical personnel that recruitment processes would be transparent and merit-based pointing out that only those qualified would be accepted.
