Iyunade Grace
Pensioners in Abia State have rejected the state government’s proposed 2031 timeline for clearing outstanding gratuity payments, describing the plan as unacceptable and a further delay in the payment of their retirement benefits.
The pensioners, under the aegis of their Steering Committee, reached the position after deliberating on the progress of their efforts to secure the payment of outstanding pension and gratuity arrears.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the committee commended the state government for commencing the payment of gratuities after several postponements.
However, it expressed concern that more than two-thirds of beneficiaries in the 2001–2010 batch had yet to receive their payments.
The committee also alleged that some beneficiaries who had received payments were paid amounts below what they were entitled to.
It consequently called on the government to ensure transparency by publishing the names of beneficiaries paid in each batch and the amounts disbursed.
The pensioners also questioned earlier remarks by the Abia State Commissioner for Information that the payments would be made “in tranches and gradual,” with priority given to the “oldest arrears first.”
According to the committee, the position raises concerns over whether the N10 billion earmarked for the 2001–2010 batch would be sufficient to settle the entire outstanding liability.
It argued that if the funds were adequate, there would be no justification for paying beneficiaries within the same batch at different times.
The pensioners further reminded the governor of his December 31, 2023 commitment to clear outstanding pension and gratuity arrears by the end of March 2024.
They said the commitment did not envisage extending the payments until 2031, noting that the governor had also indicated that he would seek approval from the State House of Assembly for a special fund to facilitate the settlement of the retirement benefits.
The committee described the proposed 2031 deadline as a disservice to retirees, warning that prolonged delays could further reduce the value of their benefits amid rising inflation.
It also expressed concern that some beneficiaries might die before receiving their entitlements.
“Many more pensioners may not be alive due to their inability to feed and buy their medications,” the committee warned.
The pensioners also questioned the justification for extending the payment period to 2031, citing what they described as improved revenue accruing to the state following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
They recalled that a former Abia State governor reportedly paid N32 billion in retirement benefits in 2007, arguing that the current administration should be better positioned to clear the outstanding liabilities given the increase in federal allocations to states.
