Before the Owelle Rochas Okorocha-led government came on board, the Imo Broadcasting corporation, Owerri pensioners were owed more than thirty months pension arrears.
It became an unenshrined law that any staff of the broadcast outfit who retired queued on the line to wait for turns. Life became so unbearable that it became a curse or taboo for any IBC staff to think of retirement. Many according to records, died before having a taste of their sweat.
However, at the death of a retirees, the bereaved family was given a paltry sum to at least bury their dead with unfulfilled promises that the rest would be paid soon.
But respite came the way of the retirees when the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha came to their rescue when he took over the payment of the pensioners from the month of March, 2014. The pensioners heaved a sigh of relief.
The state government started paying the monthly arrears owed them alongside the current month. This gesture did not however last long as the arrears have piled up again while since January 2015 the pensioners have not received any dime.
The pensioners who had earlier described Owelle as a “Daniel who has come to judgement” are bewildered as to why the Governor raised their morals high and sharpened their appetite only to abandon them mid way.
A pensioner who confided in Trumpeta under condition of anonymity said, “you see my son, we are so frail that we cannot do any protest. We cannot even go on strike. The only weapon we have to seek redress is Appeal and so help us appeal to Owelle to look at our side as we are dying”, the old man sobbed.
