South East, South South NUP knock Okorocha over N56b unpaid pensions in Imo

Spokesman of the JRCSESS-NUP, Dr. Anthony Ugozor, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, regretted that the former governor did not pay the debt regardless of a court order directing him to do so.

Ugozor recalled that the National Industrial Court had, in an order, granted reliefs sought by pensioners, mandating Okorocha to clear arrears of retirees.

He regretted that despite the order declaring that pensions and gratuities are legitimate entitlements, which the government is obligated to pay, the former governor failed to clear the debt.

According to him, Okorocha’s successor, Emeka Ihedioha, who waded in to start paying the debt, was removed from office as the governor, a development, he said, has left the retirement benefits unpaid.

Ugozor, who is a select committee member, appointed to look into cases and challenges facing the South East and South South, explained that the serving governor, Hope Uzodinma, allegedly avoided revisiting the court order seeking payment of pension arrears.

He revealed that the committee is expected to look into similar indebtedness and make its recommendations to the regional council on what concerns states in the region, as well as what should be done to redress their problems.

The former Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and incumbent NUP Chairman in Anambra said: “The regional council is to look critically at the methodology of approaching state governments, especially those owing pensions and gratuities to get affected governors to do the needful in line with their oath of office.

“The regional council meets to forge a force, which would get into any state and ensure it tackles challenges affecting the cause and interests of pensioners negatively.”

He urged other state governors to emulate their Anambra counterpart, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who, he observed, has been proffering solutions to the problems of workers, particularly pensioners.

Ugozor noted that Soludo has been keeping his May Day 2022 promise of gradual liquidation of arrears of gratuities owed by his predecessor, Willie Obiano.