Abia Pensioners Protest Gratuity Delays, Underpayments, 2031 Timeline

The Abia Pensioners’ Forum has commended the Abia State Government for commencing payment of outstanding gratuities to retirees but faulted the implementation of the exercise, alleging delays, underpayments and difficulties in accessing the government’s complaint platform.

The Forum, a pressure group under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Abia State Council, made its position known in a press release signed by its Coordinator, Okey Kanu, and Secretary, Comrade Emma Onyenyi­ri, dated September 21, 2026 and made available to newsmen today.

The state government had announced in August that it was commencing phased payment of outstanding gratuities to verified state and local government retirees, beginning with those who retired between 2001 and 2010. Government put the total outstanding gratuity liability at N61.8 billion, including N7.2 billion for the 2001–2010 period, with the overall payment framework extending from 2026 to 2031.

While acknowledging the commencement of the payment, the Forum alleged that more than half of beneficiaries in the 2001–2010 batch were yet to receive their entitlements nearly one month after the exercise began.

It also alleged that some beneficiaries who had been paid received less than the amounts indicated in their retirement authorisation letters, with some reportedly having shortfalls of more than N100,000.

The pensioners further complained that the desk office established to receive complaints from beneficiaries was not functioning effectively, leaving many retirees to move between the Office of the Head of Service and that of the Accountant-General in search of redress.

The Forum therefore urged Governor Alex Otti to make the process more transparent by publishing the names of beneficiaries in each batch and the specific amounts payable to them.

It also questioned statements attributed to the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, that the disbursement would be gradual and prioritise the oldest arrears.

According to the Forum, the development raises questions about whether the funds earmarked for the 2001–2010 batch are sufficient to settle the beneficiaries at once.

The group further challenged the rationale for extending the payment programme to 2031, arguing that retirees had endured years of waiting and that further delays could worsen their financial difficulties.

It recalled several earlier commitments attributed to Governor Otti to clear outstanding pension and gratuity arrears, including promises made during his election campaigns and after assuming office.

The Forum also questioned the government’s position that the gratuity liability would be settled progressively as resources become available, arguing that the conditional nature of the commitment creates uncertainty for pensioners.

The group cited Governor Otti’s 2018 open letter to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on unpaid salaries and pensions, in which Otti had appealed for greater consideration for workers and pensioners.

The Forum said it was particularly concerned that the purchasing value of the outstanding benefits could continue to decline with prolonged delays, while some beneficiaries may die before receiving their entitlements.

It also renewed its call for clarity on the separate issue of alleged outstanding pension arrears. The Forum recalled its earlier request for a judicial panel of inquiry to establish whether pension arrears were indeed fully settled, as claimed by the state government.

The pensioners called on Governor Otti to demonstrate empathy and ensure that retirees receive their lawful entitlements without unnecessary delays.

They also invoked biblical and Quranic injunctions on the payment of workers’ wages, stressing that retirement benefits represent the fruits of years of service.

The Forum further urged the government to review the payment process, address complaints promptly and provide greater transparency in the disbursement of gratuities.