We Cleared All Arrears Of Pensions To 12,500 Retirees, Injected Money To Abia Economy – Gov. Otti

Abia state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti says he defrayed all arrears of pensions dating back to 2014 owed to about 12,500 pensioners in Abia state

Governor Otti disclosed this at the April edition of the monthly media chat tagged, “Governor Alex Otti speaks to Abians” held at Government House Umuahia and broadcast on many conventional and new media platforms. He vowed that never again would Abia pensioners be owed their pensions, assuring that going forward, Abia pensioners would be receiving their one hundred percent monthly pensions alongside workers on or before the 28th of every month.

Governor Alex Otti revealed that payment of accumulated pensions in the state has greater positive impact on the economy of Abia state as it has injected money into the system.

“I am glad to report that all pensioners , when I said all, I mean all of them have been paid as at last Thursday. All of the arrears have been taken away.

“The economy works with money. If you are in Abia and you will see that those pensioners who would have been begging 500 Naira, 1000 Naira, 5000 Naira to eat are able to feed themselves today and you recognize the fact that when they spend this money , they spend it in the State.

“So, if you understand the multiplier effect of money ,if you understand that supply can only happen when there is demand and effective demand is that demand that is backed up by cash, then you would have understood what we have done, we have returned power to those that own it and that is the people, and I am happy that our pensioners, close to 12,500 of them have been paid”

Reacting on the BCA pensioners who were reportedly left out in the pension arrears as a result of non verification, Governor Otti said he was surprised to hear that they were not paid. He also described as an aberration, the report that BCA pensioners were asked to come to BCA for verification and was never verified pointing out that his directives was for all pensioners to be verified in their areas and the sickly at their homes.

The state chief executive while assuring that the state government will investigate and do the needful, assured that the welfare of pensioners in the state would remain topmost priority of his administration .

Governor Otti also announced that one million 10kg bags of rice have been received from Dangote with 588 bags to be distributed to the most vulnerable groups in each of the 17 LGAs of the state to cushion the effects of the prevailing harsh economic situation.

Azubuike Jinanwa /Divine Nwankwo
Govt. House Press, Umuahia.