Imo State branch of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has withdrawn support for plans by the government to pay the salary arrears and gratuities of pensioners within 36 months.
State TUC Chairman, P.C. Akalazu, told TheNiche in an interview that the agreement was rescinded after the plight of retirees was reviewed.
He disclosed that a letter is being sent to Governor Rochas Okorocha demanding that pensioners be paid promptly because of the health challenges of the elderly men and women who rely on the monthly stipend for livelihood.
Akalazu advocated payment of all arrears of pension and gratuity within six months from July 2015.
He reiterated the statement the TUC made on July 1 that “all arrears of pension and gratuity owed pensioners in the state be cleared without further delay as many of them die on a daily basis due to non payment of their pensions and gratuities.”
The state government and TUC had on July 6 signed an agreement for an immediate pension audit, while the payment of 26 months’ arrears of pension and gratuity would be spread over 36 months.
It was stated in the earlier agreement that “the government and labour expressed concern at the number of months of outstanding pension, particularly to primary school teachers.
“It was then agreed that immediate pension audit be carried out to ascertain the actual number of pensioners and amount payable.
“The government and labour therefore agreed to commence payment of pension by July 2015 when the audit exercise must have been completed.
“It was also agreed that the outstanding pensions for the previous months will be for a period of 36 months from August 2015.”
Akalazu explained that Labour is involved in the supervision of salary payment to ascertain claims of ghost workers the government uses as excuse for delay.
“So far the government has paid May 2015 salary and promised to clear salary arrears as soon as the bailout funds are made available from Abuja. We are yet to identify any case of these ghost workers,” he stressed.
The plan is for the arrears of salary owed civil servants, teachers, council and health workers to be paid up to June 2015, subject to the availability of bailout funds from the federal government.
Other agreements include that parastatals be fully commercialised to make them more productive. Their workers would earn only June 2015 salary while arrears would be paid within six months.
