…Union urges Uzodimma to address plight of other unpaid pensioners
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council, has commended the state government for reenlisting the former Director of Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), Mr Alex Nwahiri, for pension.
The Council has also commended the Accountant General for of the state for working in accordance to government’s directives in reelisting Chief Alex Nwahiri into the state pension payroll. The Council identified the feat as gernane and healthy for democracy.
Nwahiri, who rendered quality service to the state, stopped receiving his pension when his name disappeared from pensions payroll, had recently, happily told NUJ that he has been reenlisted for pension by the state government.
Reacting on the cheering development, the Chairman of Imo State NUJ, Comrade Nwadike Precious, called on government to ensure that retirees who have not been receiving their pensions are urgently paid to enable them feed well and live strong, saying pension is the right of workers not a privilege by government and hence retirees should be paid regularly while they are still living.
“To God be the glory, Chief Alex Nwahiri has been re-enlisted on the payroll of Imo pensioners and has started receiving his pension.
“Our position is that every civil servant and pensioner deserves his or her payment; no one should have to beg for what is rightfully theirs.
“Unfortunately, while we tried to intervene on behalf of our colleague and an Aide to the governor(namewitheld), threw caution to the wind and began to blackmail some of us for standing up for a colleague.
“Some of our friends felt we stepped on their toes while making case for a senior colleague, with particular mention of the Accountant General. It is in our nature to fight for the weak. No ill feeling is attached. Those who feel offended as a result of this and our other agitations for good governance should please bear with us”, Nwadike said.
