Abia State pensioners have faulted the claim by former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu that he never owed pensioners during his tenure as governor between 1999 and 2007.
Kalu spoke last month during his formal reception into the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Umuahia.
But speaking under the aegis of Abia State Civil/Public Service pensioners association, leader of the group, Chief Emmanuel Okparanta advised the former governor not to politicize the issue of pension payment.
He spoke during a meeting with Abia State Commissioner for Information John Okiyi Kalu in Umuahia.
Okparanta said; “We were shocked to hear Dr Kalu tell Nigerians a blatant lie that he never owed salaries and pensions during his tenure, whereas we are aware that most of the issues with Pensions and salaries in Abia State started during his tenure.
“We still have Pension outstanding from 2002 to 2007 and the succeeding administration inherited the payments, paid some and passed on the remaining to the Ikpeazu administration.
“It was also under Kalu’s administration that the local government system in Abia State was bastardised. For instance, Aba North Local Government owed workers more than one year salary even after the local government was sunk into huge bank loans.”
the commissioner appealed for patience from the pensioners to enable the government stabilise internally generated revenue through the introduction of technology that will minimize Revenue leakages and ensure regular payment of salaries and pensions.
He said: “The government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is concerned about pension outstanding and we are determined to ensure that the problem is quickly solved to enable our senior citizens enjoy their retirement benefits. Today we have ensured that MDAs that make up more than 70% of our workforce are up to date on salary payments and the next stop is to ensure that pensioners and teachers are also up to date. This government is determined to defeat that challenge of salary and Pension outstanding the same thoughtful and systematic way it defeated the challenge of Ukwu Mango Ariaria and Aba Road Umuahia”.
Chief Okparanta, praised the governor for keeping his promise of paying at least three months outstanding and urged him to harmonise “old and new pensioners payment in the state”.
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