The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Anambra State branch, has hailed the State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, for successfully clearing arrears of pensions owed pensioners in the State to the tune of N22 billion inherited from Willie Obiano.

The State NUP Chairman, Dr Comrade Anthony Ugozoe, made this known in Awka, the State capital, yesterday, while addressing a cross-section of pensioners and media personnel on the theme: “Harmonization of Pension in Anambra State”,

Ugozor highlighted the N10,000 pension award by Soludo to all the pensioners on October 25, 2024, when he realized that most pensioners in the State received less than N1000 each as their pension.

He observed that his leadership has brought to the knowledge of the governor the sad development that “the least paid pensioner receives N333.45 only as a monthly pension.”.

This came as the NUP boss categorically stated that “harmonization of pension in Anambra State is yet to be done in the State, clarifying that “the true meaning of Harmonization of Pensions differs from pension award. The former, he noted, simply means placing all pensioners who retire on the same grade level at various years irrespective of their year of retirement.”

He said, sequel to this, “the Solution Governor, Professor Charles Soludo immediately gave an ‘award’ by fiat” of N10,000 to all pensioners with effect from October 2024 on the interim pending the pension harmonisation and implementation of minimum pension of N32,000, ” stressing: “All is not well with pensioners in Anambra State.”

Ugozor observed that the above “pension of N10,000 award cannot be seen as approval of pension adjustment in line with salary reviews for improved welfare as canvassed by the Government of Anambra State since salary review is a constitutional and establishment matter which happens every five years, but the State Government continues to ignore it.”

He cited this: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution 1999 as amended states in Section 210(3) ‘ Pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any State Civil Service Salary Reviews, whichever is earlier.”

The NUP boss regretted that the State government doesn’t look at this Section of the Constitution. Hence, there was no review of pension for more than 20 years, as the last state pension review was on 1st May 2000.”

According to him, the State Government had about three weeks ago made claims that it had “paid Anambra Pensioners all outstanding obligations with the heading: “Governor Soludo strengthens pension welfare in Anambra.”

But swiftly reacting, the State NUP Chairman clarified that it was not true that the State government had, in the said phased clearance of inherited pensions arrears, liquidated all indebtedness, saying: the government, after being given “a mere nominal approval of pension adjustment of the State Government,” is owing 11 months’ pension arrears owed some Primary School Pensioners.

The indebtedness, investigation revealed, covers from 2002 to 2003, amounting to N490,184,626. 58k.

Ugozoe recalled that “the arrears were approved for payment since 2014 and approval is in the custody of Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), waiting to be disbursed to the beneficiaries”. Stating: “Approval is not payment and Adjustment of pension is not Harmonization of pension.”

He pointed out that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Comrade Humphrey Nwafor drew the attention of the Speaker through a letter dated NUP /ANS/36/ dated 9th February 2024 and received on 16th February 2024 demanding payment of 11 months’ pension arrears owed some Primary School Pensioners.

The State NUP Chairman noted that the Office of the Speaker confirmed that “the money is domiciled in the JAAC Office and yet to be paid to the concerned pensioners.”

Going further, Ugozor noted that NUP in January 2025 wrote a letter to the State Head of Service on non-payment of the 11 months’ arrears of pension to Primark School Pensioners, lamenting that nothing has been done to date.

He revealed that NUP has submitted a comprehensive and verified payable ledger prepared for payment by the State Local Government Pensions Board, Awka, in 2014, but not paid, appealing to Governor Soludo to liquidate the arrears at his earliest convenience.

Corroborating, one of the oldest active retirees, a 90-year-old Gregory Chukwukelu (who retired in early 2000 from teaching at Umuhu Central School, Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Council said primary school pensioners were only paid five months, leaving an outstanding debt of 11 months to date.

He recounted that the outstanding 11 months’ arrears being demanded came about after the Federal Government had decided to remit federal shares of pensions of teachers that retired from service as and when due to various states of the federation, including Anambra State.

Chujwukelu (aka. Ogbatuluenyi pleaded with the government to settle his 11 months’ arrears owed primary school teachers as a parting gift.

In his remark, the NUP Secretary, Comrade Alexander Ubani, condemned the arrears of pensions owed staff of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), calling for a N10,000 payment and the non-payment of gratuity, with which a pensioner is expected to build a house or buy a car.

Ubani said the government is a continuum and the Soludo administration should account for about N490.1m million owed pensioners.