BREAKING: Governor Umahi Earmarks N1B For Gratuity
……SUSPENDS NEW PENSION LAW….
Governor David Nweze Umahi has announced that the state government has earmarked N1b for the payment of gratuities for all retired workers in the state even as he suspended the new contributory pension law in the state as part of his resolves to restore peace and confidence between the state government and workers of the state.
Addressing workers at the main bowl of the Abakaliki Township stadium during the may day to commerce workers’day, Governor Umahi also announced to the cheering crowd that all promotions have been released in the state.
All promotion is hereby released in the month of may. Head of service and and Chairman of Civil Service Commission is hereby directed to release the promotions to the date in the month of May. If there is any withholding this directive, the organized labour should text me immediately ” Governor Umahi said the N1b which was set aside was to offset the backlog of retirement benefits few days before their final retirement.
On the controversies trailing the new pension scheme, Governor Umahi said his decision to suspend the new pension scheme was informed by his desire to give the workers opportunity to make input on smooth programme.
“By my records, am not paying pensions because when you strengths the path of those that laboured ahead of you, your own path will be strengthened when you have retired. For gratuity, in the month of may, we shall be releasing the sum of N500million for local government gratuity and the state gratuity another N500million. So, on the whole, we shall be releasing the sum of N1bn to tackle the gratuity”, the governor stated.
“By your popular request, we are going to suspend the new pension law and all your desires will be taken into considerations. By 15th of may, every deductions made in respect of the pension law will be refunded back to you”
“Its the duty of the leadership of the organized labour that we have now that is very vibrant to sit down and articulate what the pension law should be, I will not interfere and you will be the one to inform us when the new pension law will come into effect. Any moment is convenient with the House of Assembly but we will continue to pay pensions to our senior citizens”,
The Governor also directed that promotions and leave allowances be released immediately and approved three more lorry buses to the works to aid their mobility to work.
Afikpo Chic via Osita Kalu Ugoji.
