Opinion II What Should We Tell The Pensioners?

WHAT SHOULD WE TELL THE PENSIONERS?

        

The last time I checked, the teeming Imo pensioners otherwise known as senior citizens were conspicuously bemused and astonished over what could best be described as ‘breach of contract’. The situation was ostensibly helpless, hence the need for a sober reflection.

         

It would be recalled that recently – precisely in July 2017 – the Imo state’s governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha graciously announced the second receipt of the Paris Club refund, and equally used the medium to clarify that the fund would be used to clear the pending arrears of pensions accruable to the state’s retirees as well as pay workers’ salaries.

         

Those of us who had closely watched the revered senior citizens wallow in penury were so pleased over the announcement, thus intensely appreciated the number-one citizen for thinking in such remarkable direction. In fact, at the time, we couldn’t wait to observe the pensioners smile at least once again.

         

Lest I forget; penultimate year, the government had what seemed like a deal with the pensioners. The former pleaded with the latter to forfeit sixty percent (60%) of each of their respective pension arrears ranging from past years till December 2016, promising to start paying their pension promptly – and in full – starting from January 2017. Majority of the creditors complied with the plea just for the sake of peace and way forward. Though some of those who refused to comply are yet to receive their pay as regards the period in review, it’s worth noting that that’s not the concern of this very piece.

         

Having sacrificed greatly in order to ease the burden for the government with the view of ensuring that 2017 henceforth, they would never be regarded as creditors to the government regarding arrears of pensions, it is saddening to note that the pensioners are still not sure what their fate entails when it calls for payment of pensions in the Eastern Heartland.

         

Sometime two months ago, after the declaration of the receipt of the Paris Club refund, they were called to Owerri to collect the arrears of pensions owed them having undergone a rigorous verification conducted by a committee set up by the governor. They went to the venue for the payment, expecting to receive at least eight months of pension arrears – ranging from January to August 2017 – only for them to be handed over cheques  required to take care of just three months of their various pensions. However, they were asked to return the following week for the remaining payment. It’s noteworthy that some of them are yet to receive their cheques for the first three months of the year.

          

It’s pertinent to acknowledge that something very impressive transpired while the cheques were being issued to the senior citizens. Some account officers from the state’s Pension Board were found wanting, thus were instantly arrested by the police via the request of the government. It would be recalled that the Imo government had before then been crying foul that so much funds were being utilized on payment of pension in the state owing to leakages yet to be discovered.

          

Hence, when the indicted pension officers were caught and the misappropriations ascertained therein, I immensely jubilated as well as applauded the Rescue Mission Administration, hoping that the revelation would go a long way in ensuring that the teeming pensioners were no longer owed subsequently since the cause of the inconsequential excesses had been brought in the government’s know.

          

Intriguingly, the case remains the same till date. The pensioners are still looking forward to when the ‘next month’ would be to collect their balance as pledged by the government. Against this backdrop, they keep asking the informed minds like us what their fate actually entails. And frankly, I have gotten tired and exhausted of telling them that the government is on it, hence they ought to exercise patience. Right now, I’m asking; what should we tell the pensioners?

          

I can’t vividly remember how many times I have written as well as spoken on the lingering impasse between the government and the pensioners. For the umpteenth time, I’ve taken my precious time to deliberate on this unending quagmire. Funnily enough, when I was trying to protect the government’s image, some of the pensioners alleged that they were offered dud cheques; that the cheques given to them were bounced when presented at the banks. The report got me destabilized and helpless.

          

I wouldn’t like to comment on this anomaly again, thus I urge the government headed by a man who I believe is compassionate to look into the eyes of the angry pensioners and tell them nothing but the gospel truth. They have surely waited patiently, hence at the moment, have exhausted the patience. It’s invariably my pleasure to mediate between the two parties involved, but it pisses my person off whenever I sense melodrama.

           

Penultimate week, the government disclosed that the unfortunate situation was informed by paucity of funds, thus promising to pay up when things normalized. If such notice holds water or anything to go by, then one would like to know what really happened to the Paris Club refund that was received of late in which we were told would be used to clear backlog of pension arrears.      

         

It’s noteworthy that they are asking for their rights, not privilege. It suffices to say that I see no reason they ought to be begging for such entitlement. I truly share their plights; that’s the reason I’m always concerned about these brouhahas.

          

So, at this juncture I repeat; what should we tell the pensioners? Should they start expecting another messiah, or remain resilient? It’s needless to state that only a straightforward and specific answer is required in this regard. Think about it!

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador

     

ShortStory I Reality of Life (II)

REALITY OF LIFE (II)

        Mr. Jerry Odom had never in his whole life dreamt of being a resident of Lagos, if not as a result of his parents’ persuasions. They had rigorously conscientized him to consider changing environment, which according to them, could be of great help as regards his job-hunting plight. It was after all these he thought it wise to choose the aforesaid city, which over the years had been reckoned to be the most popular and populous territory in the entire Nigerian society.

        Yet, since five years back he found his apparent miserable person in the highly revered province, nothing had changed positively in his entire life as against his anticipation, if not that he had added more years to his age; he was 33 when he left for the city, but now 38.

        The very moment he landed in Lagos, he became a commercial tricycle rider. He was lucky to encounter a man, Chief Olaja who owned many tricycles otherwise known as ‘Keke’ and wanted to lease one of them – that was at the time not in any driver’s custody – to any interested driver on hire purchase. That was how Chief Olaja who was a well-known businessman operated; he purchased all kinds of vehicles and thereof entrust them on prospective drivers on a hire purchase basis.

        Unfortunately, in the long run, Mr. Jerry had a misunderstanding with the boss, thus the tricycle was retrieved from him. The incident marked the commencement of another horrible era in his life.

        Towards seeking for survival, he needed to jettison his pride. In other to resist the forsaking side of life, he was required to appear like a nobody. In view of this, he wittingly emerged an assistant driver, equally referred to as conductor. This ostensibly implied that he was thrown to fire from frying pan. He operated as a conductor for years till he had a rethink subsequently.

         It’s noteworthy that he was intermittently vigorously searching for a white-collar job while he was into all these activities, all to no avail. At a point, having been bounced back at one marketing institution, he almost decided going back to where he came from being Cross-River State but later remained resilient.

        In the fourth year of his stay in Lagos, having denounced his job as an assistant driver, he gathered the little capital he had and ventured into trading. He activated a small shop where he traded on all sorts of minor commodities, which included confectionaries and provisions.

        Owing to poor patronage, sometimes Mr. Jerry would consider hawking his wares along the major roads situated within the locality of his humble shop. Each time he hawked, the shop would be kept partially locked. That was how he rolled relentlessly till one fateful day when something very fascinating transpired.

        “Jerry!” Mr. Ben exclaimed at the top of his voice as soon as he winded down the windscreen of his black Lexus Jeep having caught the sight of the dude, shocked.

        Mr. Ben was Jerry’s classmate way back in the University of Calabar (UniCal) during their first degree programmes. This was the first time he would sight him after their NYSC experience. On sighting him, he purposely applied his brakes right before him as if he wanted to patronize his wares.

         Of course nothing had apparently changed in Jerry’s life, if not the rags he was putting on, thus Ben needn’t stress himself much before he could recognize him. On the contrary, a lot had conspicuously changed in the life of the latter; hence, very hectic for the former to place his facial outlook let alone figuring out his current posture which was now huge compared to the previous one that could best be described as ‘lean’.

        “You can’t remember me?” enquired Ben, smiling as he held his steering firmly.

        “Ben…!” Jerry shouted the moment he eventually recalled the old face. “Oh, my Go….d!!”

        Mr. Ben quietly opened the car door, stepped out and leaned uprightly on it folding his arms.

        Mr. Jerry on his part was still carrying his wares comprised mainly handkerchief, car phone chargers and chewing gums, among others in his hands as he stare at Ben in silent awe. “Ben, is this you..?” he managed to say, standing about half a metre away. “This is unbelievable.”

        “Jerry, a hawker..?” Ben thought aloud, astonished. “What is going on here?”

        “My brother,” said Jerry. “It’s a long story.”

        “Please, save the story.” Ben urged. “Just come in, let’s get out of here.” He asked, gesticulating.

         Consequently, they both hopped into the vehicle and Ben drove off to a nearby relaxation joint.

         Thereafter, Jerry successfully secured a good job at Century bank where his friend, Ben was serving as a Regional Manager. The employment after several years of fruitless search brought an endless moment of jubilation in the life of the beneficiary and of course that of his overall family. It was needless to assert that he owed the benefactor (Ben) unquantifiable thanks cum salutations for bringing to an end the seeming cursed era.     

         Years on as God would have it, Mr. Jerry Odom emerged as the Human Resources Manager (HRM) of the establishment at the Lagos headquarters.

        “Good morning, sir.” One of Mr. Jerry’s junior colleagues, Mr. Andrew greeted as he walked into the former’s office.

        “Morning, Mr. Andrew.” responded the HRM. “How are you today?”

        “I am fine, sir.” quoth Mr. Andrew. “Thank you.” He added, standing.

        “So..?” said the 42-year-old Mr. Jerry.

        “Sir, I have come to inform you that the team is ready.”

        “You mean, the interview crew?”

        “Yes sir.”

          The bank had scheduled to conduct an oral interview on some job applicants on that fateful day. And Mr. Jerry being the HRM was according to the firm’s custom the head of the screening team, which Mr. Andrew was the secretary.

        “Alright.” replied Mr. Jerry. “I will be with you in a moment.” He said, looked at his wall clock; it was 10:25am.

         The interview was meant to commence at 11:00am, but Mr. Jerry needed to intimate the members of the 7-man screening committee on the finishing touches of the nitty-gritty of the awaited task, thus he was supposed to meet with them before the scheduled time.

        “Okay sir.” quoth Mr. Andrew. “Let me rush back to them while they await your presence.”

        “Is alright.”

         On hearing the response, Mr. Andrew smartly turned his back on the boss and walked away enthusiastically.

         Eleven O’ clock at the dot, the oral interview began as planned. Wonders indeed shall never end as the first applicant to walk into the screening hall happened to be Mr. Jude Akpan.

         It would be recalled that Mr. Akpan was the man who humiliated Mr. Jerry right in his office years back in Calabar, Cross-River State while he (Jerry) was job-hunting with his first degree. He was then the HRM of Catalog Production Limited, one of the firms where the latter sought for employment when he was still resident in the said city.

         Catalog Limited went into liquidation just a few years after the incident, thereby rendering Mr. Akpan jobless. The experience made the then happily married man left Calabar for Lagos in search of greener pasture, leaving his wife and four children behind.

        The moment Mr. Jerry Odom caught the sight of him, he stood up unwittingly, staring at him in silent awe. On his part, Mr. Akpan who couldn’t believe his eyes stopped immediately as he tried to fathom if truly the image he was seeing was Jerry’s.

        The other members of the screening crew became marvelled over the abrupt change of mood displayed by the boss alongside the applicant.

        Having fully absorbed and comprehended the picture, Mr. Jude Akpan quickly turned his back and ran out of the hall.

        The rest is history, please!

FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

_____________________________________

Twitter: @mediambassador

http://facebook.com/theMediaAmbassador 

         

              

Opinion I Why Imolites Must Remain Calm And Rational

WHY IMOLITES MUST REMAIN CALM AND RATIONAL

        

The last time I checked painstakingly, Imo as a people was deeply characterized by fathomless rancour, rift, resentment, and what have you. In some quarters, whatever the current government does becomes an error on arrival.

        

The aforementioned trend isn’t unconnected with the political differences existing amongst the individuals in question. At the moment, virtually every Imolite is of the view that he or she has what it takes to govern the state, thus invariably jeer at the Rescue Mission administration. They do so, believing if given the opportunity, could do far better than the man at the helm of affairs, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

         

If the above observation holds water, then it’s definitely needless to assert that, presently, every sane Imolite who is not an affiliate of the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – wishes to initiate his/her own political platform. The persons that fall within this bracket are of the notion that if eventually founded, their respective parties would have what it takes to lead Imo to the Promised Land, even though most Rescue missionaries are currently of the belief that the Eastern Heartland has already been taken to the said land by Governor Okorocha.

         

It is more baffling when realized that some, if not most, of those who parade themselves as Gov. Okorocha’s allies cum loyalists are nothing but bunch of sycophants who are only trying to deceive some of their apparent colleagues. This set of Imo politicians makes the greatest noise on a daily basis in every nook and cranny of the state whenever they drum their purported support for the governor.

         

They wouldn’t only sing praises or tender all forms of eulogies but would go extra mile in bowing before the leader each time they are with him. All they know how to do best, particularly in a state gathering, is to clap even when calmness and tranquility is mostly required at the arena. You would see them clapping their hands at a time when prayer is being said amid the attendees or crowd.

         

I have for the umpteenth time advised the governor to be extremely mindful of these sycophants whose physiognomies are yet to be unveiled. But I tell you categorically that, by 2018, the picture would be clearer than it presently appears. Such set of people would only end up marring the personality of their supposed leader. It suffices to say that they are not just poisonous but deadly.

         

Considering those in the opposition, there is no day that would pass, we wouldn’t hear from them that the governor has committed a grievous crime or defecated in his panties. The only thing they do all-day-long is to make frantic effort to lure the seeming ignoramuses in the state into their net, forgetting that at the moment, those who claim ignorance of happenings are only doing so at the expense of the selfish politicians. Such Imolites would do anything humanly possible to find themselves in the clique of any politician that is noted to be financially buoyant, and ‘generous’ too.

         

My optimum worry remains that while these people continue to put up all sorts of antagonisms alongside petitions, the state’s peace is invariably at stake. Then I would begin to wonder why they would claim to be lovers of Imo but still indulge in activities that are only interested in maiming, or even murdering, our collective peace.

         

Sometime ago, I was invited by one of them who wanted me to draft a petition to be forwarded to an anti-graft agency, promising to pay me a sum of half a million naira. Not only that I perceived it as an affront to my person for someone to propose to offer me just five hundred thousand naira to write a petition, I equally saw it as a contract meant for jobless individuals. Hence, the contract was breached on arrival.

          

How could one contract a writer of my status to compile a petition without providing tangible and convincing facts therein? I am not saying there’s no circumstance I can petition an authority, but before doing that, I would ensure that I am not initiating a fight I cannot accomplish; I must ensure that I would be able to defend myself irrespective of any circumstance that might arise in the future. After all, we have been officially encouraged to blow the whistle, so what would stop me from doing so when need be?    

         

The so-called elders or statesmen in Imo should please desist from dragging the state’s name to the mud. I urge them to behave like distinguished personalities at all times and all cost rather than going about exposing their dirty lilies in the public. One of my philosophical quotes states “Don’t pursue a rat in the daytime as your dream because you dreamt of a rat in the previous night”.

          

That you dreamt of becoming a governor isn’t the reason you should be chasing every sitting governor out of his seat. We must endeavour to act maturely for the common good of all. Instead of condemnation or tendering slanderous messages, we are required to criticize constructively. Antagonism, which usually leads to proliferation of propaganda, would do no good to us as a people. What we must acknowledge whenever we criticize a system or a certain policy is that, even if the leader who the criticism is directed to refused to adhere to it, prospective or potential leaders who were opportune to absorb the message would definitely learn from it.

          

Against this backdrop, I enjoin Imolites both home and in the Diaspora to refrain from any unwholesome act they have been sponsoring or participating in, as the case may be. Imo is for all of us, thus we must assist in rebuilding it no matter the amount of damage that has been made as it is being perceived in some quarters.

          

Hence, we ought to endeavour to remain calm and rational come rain come shine. Though you have dreamt of a rat during the night, but do not pursue it as your dream at the daytime. Think about it!   

Comrade FDN Nwaozor

Executive Director, Docfred Resource Hub - Owerri

________________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

Twitter: @mediambassador