By Valentine Amanze
Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Anambra State chapter, has honoured the former Governor of Anambra State and the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, in “appreciation for his outstanding contributions to the welfare of pensioners in Anambra State.”
On behalf of pensioners, their Chairman, Comrade Anthony Ugozor, said that the gesture extended to the former governor was a way of reminding those responsible for managing pension funds anywhere that they would be judged and rewarded by what they do today.
On what informed the award, Ugozor said: “His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, was so magnanimous that he paid pensioners their monthly pensions, paid all gratuities during his time and even paid16 months arrears of pension and gratuities which Dr. Chineoke Mbadinuju owed pensioners and at the same time started rice gifts to pensioners at Christmas time without making noise about it.”
Ugozor said that beyond routine payments, that Obi donated a lot of things to them, including a 14-seater bus.
Obi was represented at the event by Mr. Dubem Obaze, Engr. Patrick Obi and Mr. Valentine Obienyem.
Obaze recalled what Anambra State was before Obi, stressing that pensioners and all men of goodwill must continue to commend Obi for what he did in Anambra State.
He recalled that it was under Obi that over N30 billion arrears of pension owned to retirees were paid.
He also recalled that under Obi, gratuities were paid at least three months after retirement, as not done in any state or probably will be done later.
