ABIA PENSION: “We are Satisfied, There’s No Cause For Alarm”… Pensioners Reveal Payment Received

Chief Emeka Okezie, coordinator of a group of Abia pensioners known as ‘Concerned Abia Pensioners’ has responded to worrying concerns of pensioners in the state as regards discrepancies in payment received, believed to be pension payment.

Issues of pension payment arose when pensioners in Abia state raised alarms of heavy reduction in the ongoing payment received in the month of July 2023.

Chief Emeka while responding to questions fed by journalists via telephone phone call in Umuahia on Friday revealed that the group delegated five members to interface with the account-general of Abia State to clarify the amount recently received by pensioners as pension.

Chief Emeka said the delegates were informed that the payment they received was meant for transportation to enable them participate in the coming verification exercise of pensioners in Abia state.

Chief Emeka however debunked speculation which has it that pensioners protested in the state’s accountant-generals office to demand answers in gross reduction in their paid pension.

He however added that they were also addressed by Njum Onyemenam, the accountant- general of the state via a video call to give clear explanation on the ongoing payment received by pensioners.

Chief Emeka however added that pensioners in the state became highly worried, drawing conclusions that they have been underpaid which he said is the pattern of the previous government of the state.

In his words: “We were worried and suspected that it was another style of under payment done by the administration of former governor Okezie Ikpeazu, they told us everything about it and we were satisfied, there’s no cause for alarm.”

The current government of Abia State led by governor Alex Otti has recently expressed commitment to paying workers salaries and pension as promised during his inaugural speech on May 29,2023.