The National President of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Chief Godwin Ikechukwu Abumisi, has commended Governor Hope Uzodimma for regular and prompt payment of pensioners in Imo State.
He said “pensioners are now happy and rejoicing because His Excellency has removed the anomalies of past administration of Rochas Okorocha.”
The President of NUP gave the commendation at the New Executive Council Chambers, Government House Owerri, when he led the National as well as State Executives on a courtesy visit to the Governor.
Receiving them, Governor Uzodimma assured them of his commitment to the welfare of their members and readiness to support and cooperate with the leadership of the NUP even as he challenged them to see government as partners in progress.
Governor Uzodimma who was excited that for the first time NUP has a President of South East extraction commended the body for living up to their bidding of ensuring that their laid down rules were followed which resulted to the emergence of a president of South East extraction.
He commended the officers from the South East and other Union Executives from other parts of the country for exhibiting patrotism, trust and confidence on their members no matter where they come from.
The Governor challenged the new President of NUP to see his emergence “as a call to national duty which carries a lot of expectations” with the reasoning that under his administration the Union will be better than it is today.
He challenged his members, both the National and State, who accompanied the President on the visit to rally round him to ensure that Abumisi’s “administration will be remembered for good even by those that will come after him.”
The Governor, on behalf of the Government and people of Imo State, promised to continue to partner and support the Executive and members of the Union by ensuring prompt payment of pensions in Imo State.
On the other issues of welfare of pensioners in Imo State like check-off dues, arrears of pensions and gratuity, the Governor promised to direct the immediate release of check-off dues.
On arrears of pensions, he informed that his administration has done a lot in trying to recover from all the damages caused by Okorocha’s administration in Imo State, emphasizing, “it is your entitlement, so Government has the responsibility to give you what belongs to you.”
He enjoined them to assist him in correcting all the problems surrounding pensions in Imo State to make life more meaningful for all of them.
The Governor appealed to the National President and his members to advise those who have refused to appear for automation to do so and stop blackmailing the government.
Concerning gratuity of pensions which is in arrears of many years, Governor Uzodimma told the NUP that “gratuity will be very difficult for the government to pay arrears now unless the economy improves.”
Concluding, the Governor also commended the State Chairman, Chief Josiah U Ugochukwu for cooperating with the Government in solving most of the problems surrounding pension issues of the State.
In an address read earlier by the President of NUP, Chief Godwin Abumisi informed the Governor that he had come to present himself and the new officials that will work with him.
Chief Abumisi appealed to the governor to “use his good offices to reach out to other State Governors who owe pensioners to please pay them their pensions and gratuity.”
He also appealed to the Governor to consider their plight and release to them their check-off dues which he said, “they use in maintenance of their secretariat and payment of allowances to their Executives and other workers.”
The National President solicited continued partnership with his colleagues in Imo and the Governor’s fatherly support in improving their welfare.
He lauded Governor Uzodimma for always choosing the path of dialogue in resolving contentious issues between the State and NUP.
He frowned on those causing problems for government in the name of pensions, noting that most of them are not genuine pensioners rather saboteurs of government.
Introducing the visitors earlier, the State Chairman of NUP and South East Zonal Chairman of NUP, Chief Ugochukwu told the governor that they have come with all happiness to inform him that “for the first time in many years of NUP existence South East has produced a President of the Union in the person of Chief Godwin Abumisi.”
The Deputy Governor Prof Placid Njoku, some commissioners and other key appointees of government joined Governor Uzodimma in receiving them.