The last time I checked painstakingly, the teeming Imo pensioners had released a sigh of relieve. The circumstance wasn’t unconnected with the laudable gesture displayed by the amiable governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha. Prior to the said scenario, the pensioners were not unlike vulnerable dwellers rather than senior citizens; the pathetic era was occasioned by the ill-treatment they were receiving from the state government, probably owing to paucity of funds and some perceived illegalities.
It’s noteworthy that about over 24 months
arrears of pension were accruable to the said retirees. Recently, the government
led by Governor Okorocha pledged to clear 13 months out of the aforementioned
months owed them. Afterwards, the government proposed to pay only 40 per cent
(40%) of the total amount involved due to the ongoing economic downturn, but
the proposal was reportedly rejected by the Imo State chapter of the Nigerian
Union of Pensioners (NUP) as was disclosed by its chairman, Mr. Gideon Ezeji.
Funnily
enough, without minding the refusal, the government went ahead to distribute
forms among the pensioners for them to enter an unconditional undertaking. The
form entitled ‘Letter of set off in respect of my outstanding pension arrears’
was targeted to persuade the pensioners towards accepting the proposed 40%
payment as well as forfeit the remaining months that would be left after the
payment. The letter meant to be duly signed by each of the recipients reads in
part, ‘I do hereby release and discharge the Imo State Government and its
agents from all past, present and future liability and from all actions, claims
and demands in respect of the said accumulated Pension Arrears.’
The leadership of the state’s NUP had to
cry foul, stating that the government never sought their consent before
distributing the forms, thereby urged the pensioners to ignore them. It’s worth
noting that, owing to hunger and frustration, most of these supposed senior
citizens had already filled the form prior to the arrival of the directive; it
suffices to say that they were left with no choice.
The
final resolution of the pensioners was that the government should pay any
amount cum number of months it could afford and leave the remaining for
posterity rather than asking them to sign a ‘death warrant’ against their wish.
Perhaps they are avoiding following the footsteps of the Imo civil servants.
Some months ago, the leadership of the Imo branch of the Nigerian Labour
Congress (NLC) led by Mr. Austin Chilakpu, on behalf of the workers, signed an
agreement with the government accepting to be paid 70 per cent of the monthly
wages due them. Though the step was commendable because it was able to settle
the lingered impasse between the two parties, most analysts argued that the NLC
goofed. And right now, the workers – particularly those of low cadre – are
seriously complaining that the 70% is just a peanut.
So, if 70 per cent could be referred to as a
‘peanut’ by someone who is still in service, how would a pensioner regard 40
per cent of his/her pension if eventually paid? The question might seem
rhetorical but its answer would definitely serve as a pathway toward
acknowledging what actually is at stake on the part of the teeming pensioners.
It would as well shock you to note that the gratuities of most of these
retirees are yet to be cleared.
However, the governor has succeeded in
answering the question that seemed rhetorical. Penultimate week, in his radio
broadcast for Imolites, while stating that the reason for the 60% cut was due
to the astronomical and uncalled rise in the monthly pension for the pensioners
– perhaps as a result of ‘ghost pension syndrome’ coupled with the ongoing
recession – he disclosed that by January 2017 the government would reintroduce
the usual 100% payment. According to him, the cut became necessary because of
the amount of money involved. He promised that from January, henceforth, the
normal amount due the pensioners would be given to them.
It would equally interest you to note
that during the previous week, the state government, as earlier promised, issue
cheques amounting to thousands or millions of naira, as the case might be, to
each of the pensioners in respect of the undertaking signed by them. From my
estimate regarding what I gathered, each of them was paid 40 per cent of his/her
12 months pension arrears. Such gesture, which I tagged ‘Yuletide hamper’, was
indeed a welcome development, thus I sincerely appreciate the governor for it. If
you are being owed #10 and hunger is seriously ravaging you, receiving #40 from
the debtor towards quenching the severe hunger ought to be seen as commendable.
But I would advise the governor to
ensure that the state account that is responsible for the payment is well
loaded and viable, so that, none of the pensioners’ cheques would be bounced at
the bank. In addition, the governor should ensure that the pensioners receive
preference as regards payment in subsequent time, because these persons have
meritoriously served their fatherland thus deserved to be pampered without
using the ‘Baby Pampers’.
I also, on behalf of the government,
appeal to those who are yet to sign the undertaking to do so towards settling
the lingered impasse. Please endeavour to forgive the government in any way it
has wronged you. Jettison all your swords and embrace peace for the interest of
the state at large. It would be ideal and wise to begin this new year with
harmony. We all must ignore our respective personal interests toward making Imo
a greater state.
The government on its part should ensure
that subsequently dialogue is reached with the leadership of the state’s NUP before
any action on the senior citizens is taken by any authority. Most importantly,
the lingering anomaly concerning ghost pensioners ought to be quenched once and
for all. It’s high time the illegality stopped. We can’t continue to rob Peter
to pay Paul. Think about it!
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