Angry pensioners in Abia on Wednesday staged a protest at the venue of this year’s Workers Day celebration over the non-payment of 28-month pension arrears.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that almost immediately the Head of Service, Mr. Onyii Wamah, who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, mounted the dais to take the salute, the pensioners marched from their canopy to the centre stage, ahead of the commencement of the march past.

The protesters, who were clad in all-black attires, and equipped with walking sticks and placards, stood still in front of Wamah, who later came down from the dais.

The protesting senior citizens created more scene when some of them sat on bare floor, attracting sympathy from the crowd which scrambled to catch a better picture of the drama.

NAN reports that inscriptions on some of the placards read: “Stop this mercy killing and gross tyranny, pay pension, gratuity;” “Pension payment is now a taboo in Abia State,” among others.

The protesters stayed put for about 15 minutes, during which the programme, especially the march past, was disrupted, before they were later persuaded to relocate to their canopy.

Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mr. Chukwuma Udensi, said the protest was intended to draw public attention to the plight of pensioners in Abia.

Udensi said: “We are being owed 19 months now, added to the nine months owed us by the past administration, which will amount to 28 months.

“We call on Abia Government to pay pensioners of Abia, because most of our colleagues have died due to unpaid retirement benefits.”

The state Public Relations Officer of NUP, Mr. Julius Ikpe, said, “In the present administration from November 2017 till date, no pensioner has received any payment.”

State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Uchenna Obigwe, expressed dismay over the steadily increasing salary arrears and unpaid retirement benefits in Abia.

“This situation is worrisome, particularly when the pensioners are not getting their monthly pensions regularly.


“Congress still repeats her plea for the sum of N150m for gratuities monthly,” Obigwe said.

Responding, the governor said he had taken note of the complaints and needs of the workers and pensioners, adding that urgent steps would be taken to address them.

Ikpeazu also expressed the willingness of the government to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.


“We await a circular from the Federal Government concerning the minimum wage and I assure you that we will not reduce the amount but will ensure that we pay N30,000,” the governor said.

(NAN)

https://punchng.com/abia-pensioners-disrupt-workers-day-rally-protest-28-month-unpaid-pensions/

I salute the courage of the pensioners. Sometimes it is good to show government officials that power belongs to the people. And if you do not act like a mad man nobody will take you seriously.

Good radiance

Very bad

Hmmmm how do these people sleep at night?

There's a country.....

I thought they said no Ibo state is owning money
Shooir

[s]

edebemba:
I salute the courage of the pensioners. Sometimes it is good to show government officials that power belongs to the people. And if you do not act like a mad man nobody will take you seriously.

[/s]
Nonsense talk!

Why didn't they show their courage at the polls?

Did he start owing after the polls?

Igbos would rather vote any mumu PDP presents than a sane person other parties (APC especially) present.

Na their self-carved crosses, let them carry it.

Ikpeazu has finished Abia state.
Virtually nothing is happening.
From pensioners to civil servants, to medical sector, to Abia poly.
Unfortunately, they sold out for kerosene, so they will cope with it for the next four years.
Gods own state indeed.

Africa is becoming a hell on earth. African Leaders are not empathetic to the people they're leading. Too wicked and plutocratic.

That Mofo ikpeazu was never up to any good... Only God can save Abia state... Dia was a state from frying pan to fire..

Ngwa scam reloaded,power brokers in abia state succeeded is drawing abia state back by 8yrs.

Another state that requires the competition multi party politics can bring. Unfortunately not so. Abians need to get more involved in the democratic processes available to change the narrative within the state. They badly need to shake the tree of liberty.

Abia state and non payment of salaries & pension is a known matter.

I feel no pity for most Abia civil servants, they were busy shouting "equity" during the campaigns now let them face the real deal.

And you people voted for him. Election is over the man has nothing to lose.

But Igbos said only Aregbesola is owing na

I don't understand the kind of foolishness that makes you insult others in public and praise your backwards leaders in public whereas your parents are dying of starvation at home.

That's how they claimed GEJ fixed all the roads in the SE and so deserved a reelection only for the roads to start causing accidents and killing them.

Those who plant the tree of lies must eat the fruit of disappointment.

...Was there at Ibeku High School......pathetic....

The same Governors who cannot pay pensioners will be paying 30,000 naira minimum wage..... we are watching.

List your business on https://www.nairakobo.com.ng/

Nothing good about abia

Alot of dark things happening in PotorVille, yet the children of Hate and Anger will always be more concerned about what happens in the SW or how Tinubu sleeps on his matress.

What a crying shame.

God bless Asari Dokubo.

Okoyeebows:
But Igbos said only Aregbesola is owing na

I don't understand the kind of foolishness that makes you insult others in public and praise your backwards leaders in public whereas your parents are dying of starvation at home.

That's how they claimed GEJ fixed all the roads in the SE and so deserved a reelection only for the roads to start causing accidents and killing them.

Those who plant the tree of lies must eat the fruit of disappointment.

You will NEVER see them focus on anything regarding their desolate five villages. But once it bothers on south west, you see them with d1cks as erect as Kanu's when he acted his useless purn.

Very anyhow people.

Bolustical:
[s][/s]
Nonsense talk!

Why didn't they show their courage at the polls?

Did he start owing after the polls?

Igbos would rather vote any mumu PDP presents than a sane person other parties (APC especially) present.

Na their self-carved crosses, let them carry it.

which party win for osun

Unlimitk:
I thought they said no Ibo state is owning money
Shooir

The same people said Jesus was born and raised in Owerri. Abi you never hear?

They said all english words take origin from iboe.

[s]

omenkaLives:
The same people said Jesus was born and raised in Owerri. Abi you never hear?

They said all english words take origin from iboe.

[/s]
shutup

[s]

omenkaLives:
You will NEVER see them focus on anything regarding their desolate five villages. But once it bothers on south west, you see them with d1cks as erect as Kanu's when he acted his useless purn.

Very anyhow people.

[/s]
what a useless post

[s]

omenkaLives:
Alot of dark things happening in PotorVille, yet the children of Hate and Anger will always be more concerned about what happens in the SW or how Tinubu sleeps on his matress.

What a crying shame.

God bless Asari Dokubo.

[/s]
Stop talking Nonsense

Bolustical:
But why disrupt it now? Sebi they each collected 2 liters of kerosene and voted the man

Igbos be voting failed leaders continously but prefer to concentrate on SW and northern politics.

From one disaster to another: OUK------->T.A Orji------->Ikpeazu all because they are PDP.

They won't concetrate on their failed leaders but shouting Tinubu (who has left power for over a decade) upandan

Just go down and check the number of folks viewing the thread. You'd hardly see them converge on a thread about the decay in their region.

Had this thread been about, say, Tinubu sneezing, youd see at least 200 0f them viewing, distributing likes and shares to themselves over their useless grunts.

Spits.