42 Retired Abia Directors Cry Out To Otti

Forty-two retired Abia State Civil Service directors have cried out to the governor, Alex Otti, over non-payment of their pension and gratuities one year later.

The directors expressed concern over the situation in a signed letter addressed to the governor, urging him to direct the payment to save them from their plight.

The letter, sighted by LEADERSHIP in Umuahia, the capital, also faulted their retirement on October 1, last year, describing it as premature and compulsory.

“It followed the government’s adoption and implementation of the Federal Government (FGN) Circular No. HAS/S. 0074/11/91 of 1st August 2011.” the letter explained.

Entitled: “Re: Non-payment of Earned Severance Entitlements,” it argued that the circular is meant for directors on GL. 17 at the Federal Civil Service, but no other state had implemented it.

“It is sad to note, Sir, that since then, you have yet to make good your promise to pay us our statutory retirement entitlements, such as severance allowances, pensions, and gratuities.

“Some are owed arrears of January, February, and March, while others, particularly those from the parastatals, are yet to receive theirs long after completing the retirement processes.”

In an explanation, their spokesman, M C Iheke, urged the governor “to direct the immediate payment of our three months’ salaries in lieu of notice and gratuities.”

Furthermore, Iheke made a case for paying pensions to directors from the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State and other directors who have not received pensions since then.