Matthew Otoijagha
The immediate past governor of Ebonyi state, Chief Martin Elechi has said that it is untrue as claimed by his successor in office, Engr. David Umahi that he did not pay pension and gratuity to retired workers in the state during his 8 years rule, adding that pension and gratuity were paid monthly during his 8 years in office as the governor of the state.
“During my administration as governor of Ebonyi state, the state Accountant General always make provision of over 10 million naira for pension every month. And for gratuity the records are there to speak for me or those retired workers then are my witness, the only individuals that were not paid were my executive members.
“And the decision not to pay them including myself was reached by council, because we felt that it is the incoming administration that is supposed to pay us and not us to pay ourselves,” he stressed.
It could be recalled that his successor, Engr. Umahi had repeatedly claimed in public functions that he had paid over 40 percent of pension arrears and gratuity inherited from his former boss since May 2015.
But this came at a time when pensioners said recently that they have left their fate in God’s hand following the refusal of the state government to address their plight.
Pensioners through their state chairman, Chief Donatus Okemini who condemned the attitude said the action of the state, which he claimed was deliberate, has subjected her members to untold hardship. It reliably gathered however, that the state had paid gratuity to retired workers in the state in percentage rate, a system that was adopted by the present administration.