Actor Odunlade Adekola and Eniola Ajao pictured on the set of a new movie ,Argatha…

Pensioners in Imo State, led by the state
Chairman, Chief Gideon Ezeji, took to the
streets Thursday and blocked both Okigwe
road and the entrance to Government
House Owerri as they protested the non-
payment of their pension.
According to Ezeji; “As at December 2016,
the state is owing Imo pensioners between
22 months and 77 months arrears. Our
gratuities have remained unpaid since 1998
till date.”

They also described the recent plan by the
state government to pay 40 percent of the
accumulated arrears only while the
pensioners forfeit the remaining 60 percent
as callous and inconsiderate.
Reacting to the allegations, Sam
Onwuemeodo, Chief Press Secretary to
Governor Rochas Okorocha, released a
statement stating that those who protested
yesterday at the Government House are not
pensioners and that the issue of pensions
has been resolved.

“The truth of the
matter as it concerns
the issue of pensions
in the state is that
more than 99 percent
of the pensioners in
the state have been
paid arrears of their
pensions up to
December 2016. The
remaining one percent
are pensioners who
were omitted in the
first payment exercise
and they are at the
moment receiving
their cheques.” The
statement read.

Onwuemeodo also denied claims that 60%
of all pensioner’s salary was forfeited,
saying that pensioners from grade level
one to six were paid their full arrears
while those on grade seven to seventeen
are the ones who received 40% of their
arrears.
Alabatvnews.