Callers of Planet 101.1 FM, Uyo Tuesday threw barbs on Akwa Ibom government over non-payment of gratuity to some retired civil servants, primary school teachers and local government councils in the state for some years now.
StraightNews gathered that the state government has paid retired civil servants up to September 2015 while most retired primary school teachers and local government staffers are owed from eight to three years respectively.
Last week, the state government collected N10 billion, being the final tranche of the Paris Club refunds in addition to the November allocation from the Federation Account.
The callers speaking on a radio programme tagged “People’s Parliament” castigated the government for not paying pensioners their due entitlements. A caller, one Ubong from Uyo (surname not mentioned) wondered why Akwa Ibom government collected N34.5 billion from the three tranches of Paris Club refunds, yet could not pay gratuity to pensioners who had put in their youthful years to serve the government.
Another caller, one Etim still from Uyo expressed anger over the non-payment of gratuity, and lambasted Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for always attending May 1 Workers’ Day rally without fighting or defending the plights of workers whom they deduct monthly check-off dues from their salaries.
Etim said the monthly allocation is enough for the government to be paying gratuity and other entitlements accruable to the pensioners and the workers.
One Mfon from Uyo mentioned a more pathetic case that her mother died in 2006, yet her next-of-kin has collected neither gratuity nor pension. He narrated that he had visited Head of Civil Service, yet no result.
Mfon, therefore, appealed to governor Udom Emmanuel to pay next-of –kin all their entitlements to save them untimely death and hardships.
Udoh calling from Calabar lamented over the non-payment of all entitlements to the pensioners. He was unhappy over the unemployment of young graduates resulting in some of them being initiated into secret cults to perpetrate havocs the society, calling on government to address these problems.
Another caller, Valentine from Uyo criticized the government for not paying pensioners their entitlements particularly pensions and gratuity, alleging that most of them had died of hunger and sickness.
However, one Etop from Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area said since his wife was promoted in 2009, she has not been paid her promotion arrears, calling on government to clear arrears to the affected staff.
StraightNews reporter called the state NLC Chairperson, Comrade Etim Ukpong to find out the true position of things regarding gratuity and pensions, but he did not pick the calls.
