Retired Primary School Teachers Urge Gov. Eno To Ensure Smooth Payment Of Pension

Worried about the delay in payment of their pension, the enlarged meeting of retired primary school teachers and their next of kin have strongly appealed to the Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, not to allow the issue of local government autonomy to affect the smooth payment of pension, gratuity and salaries of retired and serving primary school teachers.

The group, in an 8-point resolution arrived at during an enlarged meeting held in Uyo over the weekend, maintained that a situation where a pension is paid from the 21st of a new month is an unwholesome development, as it affects the well-being of the retirees and should be completely discontinued.

The session, in a statement endorsed by Rev. Dr. Felix Ime Cookey, Chairman and Hon. Emmanuel Udoaka as Secretary, decried the non-implementation of thirty-two thousand naira (₦32,000.00) only to pensioners in the state.

According to them, “It has been three months now since the minimum wage of eighty thousand naira (₦80,000.00) only was paid to serving workers.

They added, “The government was implored to conduct the necessary verification without further delay for the interest of these aged people.

“The meeting in session showed a heartfelt appreciation to the government for the paying of a 7.5% pension contribution to the contributors and requested the government to increase the number of local government areas per batch to ten.”

They further highlighted, “We observed the continuous withholding of unpaid pension arrears as very harmful to the affected retirees. It was noted that these people retired within the last administration and have suffered from great hardship for a good ten years and above now with ten months and above of unpaid pension arrears.

Related: A’Ibom: Pensioners Seeks Audience With Gov. Eno On LG Autonomy, Demands Pension Bureau

“We appeal to our passionate governor to alleviate the sufferings of these people who have been legitimately calling on the government since 2015. It was noted that only primary school retirees are owed unpaid pension arrears in this state.

“We also noted with dismay non-payment of the 2013 and 2014 leave grants, respectively. And pleaded with the governor for intervention.

“We, the retired school teachers and the next of kin, once again thank the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno (PhD), for the love, care and support given to teachers, retirees and indeed all pensioners in the state.

“The meeting in session, having critically observed the governor’s goodwill towards the plights of retired teachers (living and late), had unanimously moved a vote of implicit confidence on him, the Executive Governor and pledged an unflinching support to his administration.”

They also resolved to support his future political aspiration come 2027 while appreciating the state commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mr. Frank Archibong, and the head of civil service, Elder Effiong Essien, for showing great concern about retired primary school teacher issues.