The AkwaIbom State House of Assembly has been commended for their swift intervention in the non-payment of gratuity and pension arrears owed retires of the Unified Local Government since 2009.
The commendation follows a letter from the Honorable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Prince UwemItaEtuk and signed by Dr. Effiong Abia which was read to the pensioners during a meeting with the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petition.
According to the secretary, Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Obong Cosmos Monday Essien, the quick respond by the House of Assembly in resolving the pension problem was an indication that the house remains the people’s assembly.
ObongEssien commended the sincerity of purpose as exhibited by the Barr Ekong Sampson’s led committee which took it upon itself to investigate and summon relevant government authorities for an explanationwhich has yielded positive result within the shortest period of time.
“We are very happy to hear from the commissioner and the accountant general that money for our pension arrears have been approved by the Joint Account Committee, we are pleased that at the moment the gap has been bridged, we are grateful to the People’s Assembly” the NUP scribe said.
In his remarks, the chairman of the House committee on Judiciary, Justice Human Rights and public Petition, Rt. Hon Ekong Sampson had expressed joy over the progress made by the government in the payment of pension and gratuity to workers who put in their best for the development of the state.
He said with the payment of arrears of pension, it was evidenced that the government was interested in the welfare of its senior citizens. He reassured pensioners that the House of Assembly will remain steadfast no matter the distraction in issues that has to do with AkwaIbom people.
“There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel and we will not relent in exploring all avenues in ensuring that there is an enduring framework that will ensure that pension issues are permanently resolved”.
Barr Sampson who represents the people of MkpatEnin State Constituency thanked the State Governor Chief GodswillAkpabio for the swift respond to the yearnings of the period.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who was represented at the meeting by Dr. EffiongAbia had informed the committee that the total amount of funds required for full payment was placed at N123,217,186.26 whereas available information indicate that pension could not be paid to them due to increase in the number of pensioners which was not backed up with corresponding increase in pension fund made available to Pension Board for payment.
He said the monthly allocation for the pension board had been increased from N60,500,000.00 to N123,217,186.26 to enable the board pay all retired pensioners.
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