Endless Verification Of Pensioners In Imo State, Nigeria

The last time I checked, a certain set of individuals in Imo State – the Eastern Heartland – was apparently confused and stranded, and hence needed to be rescued by well-meaning Imolites.

The troubling and disturbing aspect of the aforementioned scenario is that the people in question are invariably referred to – by all and sundry – as ‘Senior Citizens’.

This topic is indeed discussing the teeming Imo pensioners whose story as a group has ostensibly become so ugly, pitiable, appalling and touching, to anyone who truly loves humanity, and the survival of the human race in general.

I’m equally not unaware that this set of individuals is seriously passing through the same ordeal in various other states across Nigeria. The reason I’m more concerned about that of Imo is simply because I am a resident of the State, Owerri precisely.

These retirees, otherwise known as senior citizens, have unabatedly been subjected to ridicule, penury and unspeakable anguish by those who are constitutionally meant to protect them, or cater for their collective welfare.

It’s not anymore news that since the assumption of duty of Senator Hope Uzodinma as the Governor of Imo State, there has remained verification upon verification of these innocent retirees.

Till date, most of them have not been paid a penny since the emergence of this administration, yet they do not presently know what their fate entails.

The affected ones as regards non-payment of pensions, and even backlog of arrears, are currently requested to once again tender their particulars and retirement documents to the concerned government offices such as the Office of the State Head of Service and the Owerri Municipal LGA Headquarters, as the case may be.

This would be the umpteenth time they would be subjected to such form of slavery in a State where they are ordinarily supposed to be safeguarded and duly catered for.

Each day, the affected pensioners wallow in agony, thus reportedly end up cursing the government and its officials. You ought not to apportion blame to any of them if they eventually cast spells on a government that’s apparently playing pranks on their persons.

If I do not have Imo pensioners in my ancestral home, I would have remained sceptical over the myriad of wails and complaints of the retirees, because on a daily basis, the government claims that no pensioner in the State is being owed by the present administration.

My parents, who are still very much alive and hearty, are Imo pensioners. It suffices to say that I’m gathering my information from the horse’s mouth. In other words, I’m not exaggerating.

My dearest Mum was paid last in April, 2020 while my Dad is yet to receive a kobo from the Uzodinma-led government. Still, one so-called media aide would shamelessly come out to misinform Imolites – and the public at large – on the true state of the matter.

More painful is that, whenever they are being asked to re-submit their valid documents, the government or those in authority would never consider how they could manage to cover an enormous distance towards appearing at the designated offices in Owerri, the State Capital city.

They would even be requested to include their bank Statement of Account, not minding that such a document requires charges from the financial institution. How can an account that is showing a red alert be able to service such charges? Knowing full well that virtually every salary account is a Current Account, most of the balances in these pensioners’ accounts are in minus form owing to the unending sub-charges occasioned by the various commercial banks in Nigeria.

The short-lived Emeka Ihedioha-led administration took cognizance of this very aspect, as mentioned above. This was the reason it ensured that any retiree who was critically ill or bedridden was captured at their respective homes. Every Imolite was a living witness to this particular arrangement.

None of those retirees who were in sick bed was allowed to cover any iota of distance for he/she to be captured or verified during the short reign of Chief Ihedioha.

However, Ihedioha wasn’t a saint, therefore I’m not trying to eulogize or pour encomium on him, nor am I a fan of his person. Come to think of it; during his reign, it took the administration over four months to electronically verify the pensioners and none of them was paid the arrears owed them.

Chief Ihedioha assumed office in May, 2019 but the retirees started earning their pensions between September and October same year. No one was paid for the months when the verification exercise was conducted; that is, between May and August, 2019.

They were even meant to be paid the arrears owed by the Rochas Okorocha-led administration, because by law, government remains a continuum. This is to assert that it has seemingly been a deceit all-along by our so-called political leaders.

You cannot owe these old people and still wish and pray to be happy or live a happy life. It’s worth noting that if their blessing isn’t with you, either as a person or entity, you will never excel in your endeavours; hence, you will continue to float like a flying boat.

It is more disheartening to hear that the national leadership of the Nigerian pensioners called on the Governor a few weeks back and ridiculously appreciated the State’s number-one citizen for clearing the arrears of pensions owed the Imo retirees. How did we get here?

In the advanced society, or western world, the senior citizens are being pampered by their governments. In such a clime, everything about them is being taken care of by those in positions of authority. But here, the reverse is completely the case; they are even apparently seen as ‘witches and wizards’.

Sometimes, my beloved Mum would keep malice with me, saying I’m very close to the government, hence sees me as one of those owing her. Of course, you shouldn’t blame the old woman whose case has obviously become so pathetic. Ever since she meritoriously retired, she is yet to receive a dime as gratuity, and she served the State as a Health personnel.

I pray my mum won’t curse me someday, believing I am part of the government that doesn’t want her to live or stay alive. I’ve taken time to explain to her that Fred Nwaozor has creditably done his bit; just that the government is acting adamantly and seems lackadaisical.

I’m waiting for those who have reportedly been receiving their pensions to come and tell me their cheering stories. In fact, my mum wouldn’t like to hear – or even overhear – such a story, because that would definitely add more salt to her injury.

I equally reportedly learnt that some of the Imo workers are passing through similar ordeal. The truth is that we can’t continue to rob Peter to pay Paul. There are no two ways about it.

At this juncture, I plead with Governor Uzodinma to come clean with a view to holistically doing the needful towards averting the wrath of the Almighty. I candidly mean well for him and his administration, thus more interested in constructive criticism.

He might have been misinformed by his allies and sycophants, hence the compelling need for the Governor to move closer to the facts sheet.