Ebonyi State PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii has provided N7 million as relief support to over 300 retirees of Ebonyi State University. The retirees were denied their pensions and gratuities despite serving the university for up to 35 years. Odii's intervention was described as a gesture of solidarity with former university workers. The financial assistance was presented to the retirees in Abakaliki by the party's Publicity Secretary, Onwe Darlington.
Odii expressed regret that some retirees, including those who are dead, alive, and bedridden, had been denied their entitlements by successive administrations. He called on the Ebonyi State Government to urgently address the situation and ensure that the affected retirees receive their legitimate entitlements. According to Odii, workers dedicate their productive years to serving the state and should not be subjected to hardship after retirement.
The PDP governorship candidate emphasized that the N7 million relief was not a substitute for the retirees' outstanding pensions and gratuities but a temporary intervention aimed at providing succour to the beneficiaries. He urged the appropriate authorities to resolve the matter. Odii also expressed concern over the condition of retirees who are bedridden and those whose colleagues had died without receiving the benefits accrued to them after years of service.
The retirees, led by Elder Emeka Ugwuoke, expressed appreciation to Odii for remembering them and coming to their aid at a difficult period. Ugwuoke said the intervention had given the retirees renewed hope. The retirees appealed to the state government to urgently take steps to settle their outstanding pensions and gratuities.
Odii's gesture was seen as a demonstration of his commitment to the welfare of Ebonyi State citizens. As the 2027 Ebonyi State governorship candidate, Odii has been actively engaging with various stakeholders across the state. His intervention in the matter of EBSU retirees has garnered attention from different quarters.
The issue of unpaid pensions and gratuities to retirees has been a longstanding challenge in Ebonyi State. Successive administrations have been accused of neglecting the plight of retirees. Odii's call on the government to address the situation has resonated with many stakeholders.
The Ebonyi State Government has yet to comment on Odii's intervention and his call to address the issue of unpaid pensions and gratuities to retirees. The government is expected to take concrete steps to address the plight of the affected retirees.
Key points
- Ebonyi State PDP governorship candidate Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii provides N7 million relief support to over 300 Ebonyi State University retirees.
- Odii urges Ebonyi State Government to urgently address the issue of unpaid pensions and gratuities to retirees.
- The retirees had been denied their entitlements despite serving the university for up to 35 years.
