FORUM OF RETIRED PERMANENT SECRETARIES IN ABÍA STATE SEND SOS MESSAGE TO GOV OTTI OVER PAYMENT OF GRATUITY

FORUM OF RETIRED PERMANENT SECRETARIES IN ABÍA STATE SEND SOS MESSAGE TO GOV OTTI OVER PAYMENT OF GRATUITY

David Maduako –Umuahia

The Abia State Forum of Retired Permanent Secretaries have called on the state governor Dr Alex Óttï to come to their rescue by paying them their gratuity and other benefits which have become their only hope for survival.

This call was contained in a press release signed by Mr. Nkwachukwu Agomuoh Esq .

According to the release, The Forum of Permanent Secretaries compulsorily retired from the Civil Service by the Abia State government on October 31, 2023, have expressed deep agony over the delay of the present Administration’ in handling their matter .

The Body also said while commending Governor Alex Otti for the giant strides of his administration in infrastructural development and other sectors of the state’s economy within the period under review cried that same commitment be meted to them too.

According to the group, they held a meeting on June 2026 and pointed out that government have recorded laudable achievements but never remembered them in the scheme of things .They therefore called on government to try and use the remaining few weeks before electioneering campaigns begin to come to their aid to end the hardship facing them and many other compulsorily retired officers, whose life depend only on their Pensions and gratuities .

They stated that the continued silence of the government on the payment of accumulated gratuities to retirees after series of promises is becoming most worrisome.

The Forum clearly stated that based on Governor Alex Otti’s address on to workers on Worker’s Day May 1, that the payment of gratuities would have commenced.

The Forum therefore called on the Governor to give approval to the Accountant General of the state to release and commence immediate payment of gratuities to retired civil servants in the state.

“We want to remind Governor Alex Otti of his promise to us before our abrupt retirement that he will pay all our retirement entitlements, including our gratuities . So we therefore urge his administration to kick off payment of gratuities with us. This request is further necessitated by the biting economic situation that makes feeding and such bills as school fees, electricity and cooking gas bills this is aside hospital bills and other medications for members of the family that are inevitable for survival”, The release stated.

End .