From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has promised to take a second look at the agreement the State Government signed with the leadership of the Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) that has brewed controversy over time.
The agreement was on defraying the arrears of pensions owed by the two previous administrations in the state.
This is even as Otti has apologised to students of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), over the dilapidated state of infrastructure in the institution.
Governor Otti stated this while responding to a request made by the Chaplain of the Federal Medical Centre Chapel, Umuahia, Rev. Ernest Onyeukwu, during an event in Umuahia.
Otti said he was happy the priest understood and narrated the actual events that transpired between the government and the leadership of the NUP, insisting that the pensioners are honest people but their leadership is where the problem lies.
“I want to thank you (the priest) for the positive comments that you made about the government. Thank you for calling our attention to the issue of pension that had become problematic and I want to thank you for being honest and that is what it is.
“You can’t agree on something and then come to say that you didn’t agree. You can’t sign and say you signed under duress, particularly for our senior citizens.
“I have maintained that our senior citizens and pensioners are very honest people, very very honest. The problem is with their leadership and the problem of the leadership has to do with their association.”
Otti said the priest was correct in saying that no pension was paid in Abia State in 2018, but that it was he (Otti) who deployed N10 billion to defray the arrears of pensions owed by past administrations.
“When you said nobody was paid pension in 2018, you are very correct. Not one dime was paid but the leadership of the NUP was part of the reason nobody was paid.
“So, even when they were going into an agreement with me, they probably didn’t believe that payment will be made. And when I made the payment, they now went round to say that they didn’t sign. So, that angered me but because you (Rev. Onyeukwu) have said it, I will have a second look at it.
“Since they talked to you, you should also tell them to mind who their friends are. Somebody owed you for over ten years, didn’t pay you and somebody comes and brings N10b and puts on the table and pays you, and tomorrow, that person that owed you comes out to speak for you, you can see that something is wrong. So, please tell them to mind who their friends are,” Otti said.
Meanwhile, Governor Otti has apologised to students of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU), over the deplorable condition of infrastructure in the institution.
Otti, who made the apology while on an unscheduled visit to the university, promised to address the dire situation.
Addressing the students, Otti said, “Thank God I came; I couldn’t have believed it. I just came to see things for myself. And I thought I should take you and the University management by surprise. I’m happy to see you, but I’m very unhappy with the state of the facilities. The conditions under which you live cannot allow you to do any academic work. For those of you who do well under these conditions, we must congratulate you.”
The Governor gave the Vice Chancellor a marching order to build a functional cafeteria for the students, noting that it is unhygienic and risky to have cooking stoves, kerosene, and pots in the hostels.