Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says his administration will begin the gradual payment of verified gratuity and pension arrears owed to retirees since 2001.
Speaking during his monthly media chat at Government House, Umuahia, on Friday night, Otti said the state had concluded a thorough review of all outstanding pension claims in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners.
“The committee that we set up between the national body of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and members of my administration has just handed in its report.
“It is disheartening that pensions have remained outstanding since 2001, and the total verified outstanding pensions is in excess of N60 billion,” he said.
Describing the arrears as “a very large number, dating back over 20 years,” Otti said his administration would confront inherited liabilities head-on.
“Government is continuous, and whatever you are handed over, you deal with it. If it is assets, if it is liability, you pick all of them. We are unafraid to work out a solution,” he added.
The governor assured pensioners that they would not be neglected.
“One thing I would like to assure our pensioners is that their gratuity will be paid gradually,” he said.
Otti also noted that workers’ salaries were up to date and emphasised that staff welfare remained a priority. He addressed a payment glitch affecting newly recruited teachers, directing officials to resolve the issue immediately.
“I have instructed everyone involved that they cannot have a weekend until every affected teacher is paid. By the end of Sunday, all the people who are affected will receive their salaries,” he said