By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Awka

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Anambra State chapter, has appealed to governor Willie Obiano to pay up the eleven months arrears of pension owed the state retired primary school teachers for 2002 and 2003.

The State Chairman of NUP, Dr Anthony Ugozor, made the appeal in an interview after the union’s monthly meeting in Awka, lamenting that some of the beneficial pensioners have died without receiving the arrears, even as those alive need it for various reasons.

“It was over 20 months arrears. Former governor Peter Obi paid 16 months remaining 11 months. He gave approval for them to be paid. But it was not done before end of his tenure. We have been appealing for Governor Obiano to pay them off. This is for 2002 and 2003 set of primary school pensioners. Unfortunately, some of them have died waiting for the arrears. Those alive are still begging for it,” he maintained.

He also implored the governor to find ways of extending the pensioners revalidation exercise, which he said the state government would kick off online (Internet) from March 29 to April 12 2021 with a view to authenticating the actual pensioners for easy payment of pensions.

“There is need for extension. We have actually distributed the link to our members through branches so that our members can do the revalidation themselves at their convenience. But you know there are some of us living abroad and some incapacitated. So, they need more time. They have to extend the exercise for some weeks to carry all around,” he noted.

On capacity building, Ugozor explained that the union had articulated a one day seminar where members would be trained on rules and etiquette of modern unionism including constitutionality, contestation, consultation, obedient to union rule and dialogue for better engagement with the government and others.

God will help us