Thousands of pensioners, who thronged their pay points in
the 27 local government areas, went home disappointed, yesterday, as no
government official was on hand to either pay or address them on when they
would get their unpaid pensions and gratuities.
Vanguard gathered that the movement of the pensioners
followed several radio announcements signed by the Secretary to the Government
of Imo State, Sir George Eche, asking the affected retirees to present
themselves at their pay points for verification and payment. Vanguard gathered
that the radio announcements, which preceded the earlier planned second round
of demonstration, made the senior citizens temporarily shelve the exercise.
Reports from all the local council areas of the state showed that the
pensioners gathered in their numbers, at all the pay points, as early as
7.30am, even as they hoped that the end of their suffering was in sight. When
Vanguard visited the Orie Uratta headquarters of Owerri North local council
area, a pensioner, who simply identified himself as Chief Okey, wondered why
the government rolled out the announcement when they were not ready to attend
to the frail and famished old men and women. “For goodness sake, how can the
governor be dribbling old, frail, famished and sick people like this? What is
most baffling is that the impression he creates outside the state is that all
is well with us. This is most unfair to God and humanity”, Chief Okey lamented.
Vanguard recalls that only last week, the retirees grounded vehicular and
economic activities in Owerri, to press home their demand for payment of their
pension and gratuity. As at the last count, pensioners of Imo Broadcasting
Corporation, IBC, are owed 36 months arrears of pension.
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