Pensioners in Imo State have
threatened a showdown with the state government on January 5, 2017, if
Governor
Rochas Okorocha fails to commence the full payment of their pension arrears.
Gov. Rochas Okorocha |
Okorocha recently announced plans to
pay only 40 per cent of pension arrears.
The pensioners had taken to the
streets of Owerri, the Imo State capital, on December 21 to protest against the
proposal.
Restating their opposition to the
proposed partial payment at a news conference in Enugu, the pensioners demanded
immediate and full payment of their pension arrears.
The senior citizens announced the
plans to shut down the entire state on January 5 if the demand was not met.
The Chairman, Imo State chapter of
the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Gideon Ezeji, who addressed journalists
in company with the chairmen of other state chapters in the South-East, said
the pensioners would not back down on the demand for their full benefits.
“If Rochas fails to heed our appeal
to start paying the arrears immediately, if by January 5 nothing happens, we
will come out on the streets again,” Ezeji warned.
Ezeji noted that Imo pensioners were
among the least paid in the country, as, according to him, the state government
had not implemented any increment in pensions since 2000.
“Imo State pensioners demand 100 per
cent payment of their pension arrears. Since the year 2000, Imo pensioners have
not received any increment,” Ezeji said.
Source: The
Punch
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