Members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), South-East Zone, have commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for settling four years of outstanding gratuities amounting to N22 billion.
The gratuities, which covered retirees from 2017 to 2020, were inherited from previous administrations in the state. South-East Zonal Chairman of the union, Anthony Ugozor, gave the commendation during the union’s zonal meeting held in Awka.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, Ugozor praised the Soludo administration for prioritising the welfare of pensioners.
He noted that retirees under the current government now receive their gratuities promptly upon retirement, while monthly pensions are paid as and when due.
“We commend the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for clearing four years of outstanding gratuities owed retirees in the state,” Ugozor said.
He urged other governors in the South-East to emulate Soludo by prioritising pension matters and ensuring timely payment of retirement benefits.
The union chairman also called on governors across the region to harmonise pension rates and implement the proposed N32,000 minimum pension immediately after the Federal Government’s official announcement.
He stressed that pensioners who retired on the same grade level should receive equal pensions irrespective of their year of retirement.
Ugozor, however, reminded the Anambra State Government of the N490.18 million still pending for primary school pensioners who retired in 2002 and 2003, noting that the funds are with the Local Government Pension Board while some beneficiaries have passed away while waiting.
Head of Service in Anambra State, Ngozi Iwuno, assured pensioners of the government’s continued commitment to their welfare and urged them to remain peaceful.
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Humphrey Nwafor, disclosed that Soludo’s administration has been paying pensioners a non-taxable monthly stipend of N10,000 since October 2024.
National President of the NUP, Godwin Abumisi, encouraged pensioners not to lose hope amid current economic challenges and emphasised the importance of pension harmonisation for better welfare of retirees nationwide.
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