Abia gears up for stress-free verification of pensioners
*As NUP demands full payment of pensions, gratuity
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State government says it making strategic arrangements to ensure that verification of pensioners was seamless.
The state Acting Head of Service (HoS), Lady Joy Maduka, gave the assurance when the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Abia State Council, visited her in her office at Government House, Umuahia.
Receiving the Senior Citizens, Lady Madukaa told them that the present administration led by the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has resolved to give Abia Pensioners their pride of place among their contemporaries.
Describing Governor Otti as a man of his words, she disclosed that arrangements were on top gear to ensure that verification of pensioners was done without subjecting them to any form of difficulty or stress.
A statement by the Director of Information in the office of the HoS, Mrs. Adaeze Ralph Igbokwe, quoted the Number One civil servant in Abia as saying that the government was open to welcoming ideas that would not only help to improve the well-being of the pensioners but help in realizing a New Abia.
Earlier, the Chairman of NUP, Abia Council, Elder Chukwuemeka Irondi, appreciated Governor Otti for reducing their plights by recommencing payment of their monthly pensions since he assumed office and prayed for its sustenance.
Elder Irondi, however, requested government to restore their pensions to 100 per cent, as well as offset the arrears of their pensions and gratuities.
He further appealed for the release of their check-off dues from June 2023 till date.
Irondi assured of their readiness and support for a seamless verification exercise to ascertain the genuine and accurate number of pensioners in the Abia State government payroll.
