Pay Pensioners Now: South-East Governors Told to Emulate Soludo’s Example

Governor Charles Soludo

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), South-East Zone, has urged governors in the region to emulate the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, by clearing all outstanding gratuities owed to retirees.

NUP also appealed to other governors in the South-East to prioritise pension matters by ensuring the timely payment of retirement benefits and addressing backlog of gratuities owed to pensioners.
The union commended Soludo for clearing four years of outstanding gratuities owed to retirees between 2017 and 2020, amounting to N22 billion.
The liabilities were inherited from previous administrations in the state.
The South-East Zonal Chairman of the union, Anthony Ugozor, made the appeal during the union’s zonal meeting held in Awka.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ugozor however praised the Soludo administration for prioritising the welfare of pensioners.
He noted that retirees under the current administration in Anambra state now receive their gratuities promptly upon retirement, while monthly pensions are paid as and when due.
“We commend the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, for clearing four years of outstanding gratuities owed to retirees in the state,” Ugozor said.

The union chairman also called on governors across the region to harmonise pension rates and implement the proposed N32,000 minimum pension immediately after the Federal Government’s official announcement.
He stressed that pensioners who retired on the same grade level should receive equal pensions irrespective of their year of retirement.
Ugozor, however, reminded the Anambra State Government of the outstanding N490.18 million owed to primary school pensioners who retired in 2002 and 2003. He noted that the funds are still being held by the Local Government Pension Board, while some of the beneficiaries have died waiting for payment.
The Head of Service in Anambra State, Ngozi Iwuno, assured pensioners of the government’s continued commitment to their welfare and urged them to remain peaceful and law-abiding.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra State, Humphrey Nwafor, disclosed that the Soludo administration has been paying pensioners a non-taxable monthly stipend of N10,000 since October 2024 as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship.
National President of the NUP, Godwin Abumisi, encouraged pensioners not to lose hope despite prevailing economic challenges. He emphasised the need for pension harmonisation across the country to improve the welfare and living conditions of retirees nationwide.