Pensioners under the umbrella of Abia Concerned Pensioners on Thursday staged a protest over unpaid pension and gratuities owed them.
The pensioners who wore black chanted solidarity songs and lamented that the least paid pensioner in the state receives N500 monthly.
In a statement signed by their chairman, Amaugo Daniel and secretary, Okezie Emeka, respectively, the pensioners expressed their angst over the owed arrears.
They said they were being owed pensions arrears over a period of 32 months from 2014 till date.
The statement also disclosed that the pensioners were owed gratuity for 19 years, and non-harmonisation of pensions from 1998-2010.
“We have been dehumanized and subjected to unimaginable deaths, chronic sicknesses and unfilled promises by the state government
“That is why we embarked on a statewide prayer summit/protest to inform Abians and the world, in general, of the inhuman treatment we are facing since 1998 -2019,” the pensioners said.
Recall that Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, had pleaded with pensioners and other workers in the state to be patient with him over the pensions and salaries owed them during a statewide broadcast to mark the 28th anniversary of the creation of the state on August 27 with a promise that his administration was taking steps to pay them.
