…calls For Immediate Payment of Arrears, Implementation of Minimum Wage
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State has accused the Governor Alex Otti-led administration of intentionally withholding gratuities owed pensioners for over 60 months.
In a statement on Monday signed by the Publicity Secretary, Uche Aguoru, the party described the action as “wicked, heartless, and an embarrassment to the state,” especially given “the huge monthly allocations accruing to Abia from the Federation Account.”
“The APC said it was distressing that pensioners have continued to cry out over unpaid pensions and gratuities, while the government continues to lie and deploy media propaganda against these senior citizens,” the statement read.
According to the party, “rather than fully settle the outstanding gratuities owed retirees, the Abia State Government deceptively forced them to sign off on their outstanding gratuities and immediately rushed to the media to announce that it had paid off all outstanding arrears.”
The APC described the move as “condemnable, fraudulent, and a scam, which amounts to subjecting vulnerable senior citizens to undue pressure over money they have legitimately earned.”
The statement added that no gratuity has been paid since 2023, with outstanding obligations reportedly “in excess of ₦70 billion, including obligations owed by local government councils.”
The APC further alleged that some retirees are paid as little as “₦4,000 monthly, against the ₦32,000 national threshold agreed by states,” while workers in agencies such as ASEPA, ABSSA, Homeland Security, and ARTSMA earn between “₦23,000 and ₦40,000 monthly, below the ₦70,000 minimum wage.”
The party noted that “our sister states of Imo and Enugu have taken steps to implement the new minimum wage and have fully offset their pension and gratuity obligations, while Abia has continued to lie and deploy media propaganda.”
The APC also raised concerns over the ₦84 billion infrastructure funds recently approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging that “Abia State’s share of the funds has been lodged in a bank in which officials of the state government have substantial interest, while pensioners are dying.”
“We therefore call on the Alex Otti administration to demonstrate empathy and immediately implement the minimum wage as agreed between the government and organised labour,” the party stated.
“These are people who built and served this state. They should not spend their retirement in agony, begging for benefits they legitimately earned through decades of service and hard work,” it added.
APC Accuses Abia Govt of Withholding Pensioners’ Gratuities for 60 Months
