Akwa Ibom pensioners urge Gov Eno to pay arrears of increased pension

Pensioners in Akwa Ibom State have urged Governor Umo Eno to implement the payment of increased pension arrears for those who retired before 2012.

Eno had approved increments in the pension of all those retired before 2012, with its implementation billed to start at the end of April.

The pensioners applauded the governor in a statement signed by their secretary, Obong Cosmos Essien, saying his action had ended the era of pensioners collecting N1000, N2000 monthly in the state.

They urged him to rather start the implementation in arrears so that members could feel the impact of his kind gesture.

According to the statement, “Nigeria Union of Pensioners received the news to implement the payment of N20,000/N15,000 to various groups of pensioners by the end of this month. The union is very grateful to the governor for his benevolence to the weak and maimed called pensioners.

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“We can call the N20,000 for now minimum pension in lieu of N30,000 minimum wage, this is a product of negotiation that started from the 21-day ultimatum given to former governor Udom Emmanuel and a committee was formed by December 2022. The report of the committee came out by May 2023 and the union was ordered by the Head of Service to spread the news that the governor approved the N20,000/N15,000 respectively with effect from April 2023”.

The state secretary said the pensioners after rejoicing with the news never benefited as the implementation was stalled until the recent intervention of Eno, urging him to start with the implementation of the payment of the outstanding arrears of one year.

“Your Excellency, we appeal to you to extend your benevolence to April 2023, which all minds and spirits of all pensioners had already captured. This little arrears of one year would help bring many out of the grave which most of them had already been. Please consider the paramount request from your aged parents and friends and God will bless you.

“In continuation of 2023 report, it was agreed that after the payment, a committee will be set up to work on the Consequential Adjustment in lieu of the N30,000 minimum wage and circular to that effect had been issued to your government. While thanking you for a good start that rested on the issue of non-payment of various percentage increases, we appeal to you to consider the setting of a committee for Consequential Adjustment,” he said.

The pensioners also advocated for the establishment of a pension board or bureau for easy administration and handling of pension matters stressing that the creation will help the government manage pension matters with ease and efficiency.

They appealed to the governor to create a little time from his busy schedule for a few minutes of audience with the executive members of the union during which issues of great importance will be elaborately discussed.