Retirees in Imo State have petitioned the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to President Muhammadu Buhari alleging several offences committed against them.
In the petition to the President made available to newsmen including Trumpeta, the Body of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Imo Sate asked, the Buhari to intervene and call Okorocha to order.
The letter signed by comrade F.I. Agba a retried permanent secretary and scribe of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Imo State, states;
“The body of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Imo State most respectfully invite the attention of your Excellency to the plight of pensioners in our state- Imo. It is said that the All Progressive Congress (APC) controlled Government of Governor Rochas Okorocha has consistently defaulted in the payment of pensions and gratuities since the inception of his administration. While some retired public servants are owed over 7 years pension arrears, there is no known record of the payment of gratuities since Governor Rochas Okorocha assumed office as the Governor of Imo State.
“We are taking pains here, to address your Excellency on, this critical issue because inspite of the calibration of Federal powers in Nigeria, the President remains and owes a solemn responsibility of fatherly protection to every citizen of Nigerian. As a body, we have taken steps since 2015 to explain to the government the nature of pensions and the rights of aged men and women who have served their father land, which rights are now being violated.
“It is painful, Your Excellency, that the frequency of deaths among retired persons in the state as at today is very alarming. The insensitivity of Governor Rochas Okorocha to this situation is manifest in his assertion that “the pension profile in the state indicates that pensioners have not been dying since the creation of Imo State”. It is not only callous but an unmitigated demonstration of executive rascality and devilish wish of the governor to see the people and pensioners continue to die in large numbers. It is absurd that a Governor whose responsibility is to ensure the welfare of Imo Community as well as the security of the lives and properties of the citizenry would be more interested in the deaths of her senior citizens (Pensioners) in order to illicitly appropriate their entitlements.
“The Government has, in the few and far spaced out instances of payments, refused to pay full pensions but has rather resorted to illegal deductions and outright cancellations of some months contrary to the law.
“The body of Retired Permanent Secretaries in conjunction with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Imo State Chapter, approached the Court to determine on the propriety or legality of altering or withholding the pension rights of retired workers. The National Industrial Court Owerri Judicial division in July, 2017, duly declared that it is illegal for Imo State Government to alter or withhold the pension rights of Pensioners. It is disheartening that the Government of Governor Okorocha has refused to comply with the Court Judgment. He has rather unfortunately been falsely and maliciously using the State Radio and other national media to mis-inform the general public that he has cleared the pension arrears of pensioners in the State. The true position is that the Government indebtedness to pensioners in Imo State as at July, 2018 stands as follows:
Retired Permanent Secretaries – 2 years, 8 months
Civil Pensioners – 2 years, 8 months
Local Government Pensioners – 3 years
Retired Primary School Teachers – 3 years, 9 months
Alvan Ikoku College of Education Pensioners before Federal Government takeover – 7 years, 8 months.
“With respect to Gratuities, the failure of the Government to pay same to retired public servants for the past seven yean has brought untold hardship to pensioners. This has not only sent a very wrong Sign the serving officers but has engendered insecurity in their psyche. There is no gain-saying the fact that this scenario breeds graft corruption which is inimical to the anti corruption policy of Excellency’s administration.
“It is embarrassing that inspite of the efforts of the President to mitigate the suffering of retired workers by providing Paris Club Refund and Out Funds, the Rochas Okorocha Government has persistently ref to apply these funds to the purposes they were meant for. What would have taken to dear the arrears of Gratuities and Pensions in State could only have constituted a small percentage of the funds Excellency sent to Imo State. What is going on in Pei Administration in Imo State is only a minute part of maladministration in Imo State in the last seven (7) years.
We would like to use this opportunity to draw the attention of Excellency to the continued deterioration of the Public Service of state under Governor Rochas Okorocha. Nonpayment of pensions is a part of. The trend is also reflected in:
“Non adherence to the rules and regulations, procedures practices of the Public Service.
“Flagrant abuse of the Rule of Law and neglect of Process in the conduct of the business of Government in Imo State
“Usurpation of the statutory duties of public servants other Government Agencies by hired political cronies unstable, unqualified, adhoc staff.
“Government has consigned Budget documents to the dust Most Government activities are done outside Budgetary provision
“There are no longer proper documentation of Govern activities, functions and properties.
“There is no proper inventory management in the system.
“The local government system has been destroyed.
“The rescue mission “Free Education” which covers only tuition is being run without teachers in the public primary and post primary schools. The impression is now being created that the Federal Government no longer funds education from primary to junior secondary in the State.
“At present almost all Government activities and functions are domiciled in the Government House, while the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) who are required by law and have the competence and capacity to do these jobs lie moribund to the detriment of Imo people.
“This administration through its behavior has introduced lawlessness and disobedience to court orders in the state.
