Imo pensioners reject 50% pension cut

The Imo state council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has unanimously rejected the state government’s proposal to slash monthly pensions paid retirees by 50 percent.
The state government, it was learnt, had designed a form directing pensioners to sign an undertaking that only 50 percent monthly would be paid them by the government.

In a meeting with branch chairmen and secretaries from the 27 local government areas, the NUP adopted a motion rejecting the directive in its totality.

Daily Times recalled that NUP and the state government are presently in court following December, 2016 similar directive by the state government that only 40 percent of accumulate pension arrears be paid the senior citizens, while 60 percent is forfeited.

Mr. Boniface Echefu, from Isiala Mbano said the council must guide its members against signing the undertaking which would mean that only 50 percent of their monthly pension will be paid them.

He said that it was unlawful for the government to tamper amendment of Pension Act through the back door, by cutting pension due retirees in the state, while their colleagues elsewhere get different package.

Mr Gabriel Madu, from Mbaitoli LGA described the form being circulated for pensioners to sign as obnoxious’, anddetrimental’ to the welfare and wellbeing of Imo pensioners.

He urged the council members to not only condemn the act, but as well enlighten their branches on the dangers of endorsing such document which according to him would further impoverish pensioners who some receive less than N3, 000 monthly.

The union in a resolution signed by all the 52 council members present at the meeting, unanimously adopted the motion directing all pensioners in the state not to append their signatures on the form entitled, `Undertaking and Indemnity for Receipt of Pensions.’

The NUP in the resolution stated that it “rejects in its entirety the offer of 50 percent monthly pension by Imo State Government, we also reject government’s claim that it has cleared all arrears of pensioners fully of any further liability.’’

In his remarks, the state chairman of NUP, Chief Gideon Ezeji, said it was regrettable that government came up with another obnoxious measure to further expose pensioners to more hardship, while pensioners were still grappling with last year’s issue.

“It is painful to inform NUP members that Imo state government designed a form which is being circulated across the state that we will only be receiving 50 percent monthly pensions.

This is coming on the heels of the December, 2016 obnoxious directive that pensioners undertake that only 40 percent of their accumulated pension arrears be paid them thereby forfeiting 60 percent to government.’’
The state secretary of Imo State Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Chief Agba, described government’s treatment to Imo pensioner as `lawless’, sayingpension matters like salaries and wages are in the exclusive list of Nigeria constitution.

Agba noted that it was wrong for Imo state government and her officials to be tinkering with pension matters, and appealed to Gov. Rochas Okorocha to consult wisely before taking position on such matters.