Pensioners in Imo state have expressed deep appreciation to Gov Hope Uzodinma for paying their gratuities, which have been outstanding for decades.
They said Uzodinma has done what past administrations failed to do for them, noting that for that singular act ,the governor will live to enjoy his old age.
In a heart-felt emotional letter to Uzodinma, the senior citizens described the payment of their gratuities by the current administration as a dream come true.
In the letter signed by Chief Dr Josiah Ugochukwu, state chairman and Evangelist Livinus Ashiegbu, state secretary, the pensioners declared, ” today, a Daniel has come for judgment in Imo state. Even the doubting Thomases have seen that we are receiving our alerts for the gratuities. “
They further noted that instead of the forty per cent gratuities, a previous governor wanted to armtwist them to accepting, Gov Hope Uzodinma is paying them 100 per cent.
They acknowledged that the majority of their members had already received their alerts for the payment, confirming that Uzodinma has kept his promise.
The senior students p
rayed for the governor, thus, ” Your second tenure will be better and more prosperous and more peaceful than your first tenure.”
They, however, pleaded with the governor to address the plight of some of their members who have not been receiving their pensions as a result of bureaucratic bottlenecks.
They also warned the people they described as the enemies of the state government to desist from extorting pensioners.
The pensioners carpeted the previous administrations for denying them their gratuities even when they obtained court rulings in their favour.
According to them, ” unlike the previous governments that owed and refused to pay pensioners, the present government has been committed and consistent in the payment of 100 percent pension to us as against 40 percent ex governor Rochas Okorocha wanted to pay”
Accusing Okorocha of inflicting pain on their members ,the pensioners wrote, ” Okorocha subjected Imo pensioners to untold hardship, torture and mass untimely deaths as a result of deprivation of their pensions and gratuities “
They pledged to support the government of Senator Hope Uzodinma as a way of appreciating his compassion and benevolence to Imo pensioners through the payment of their gratuities and prompt payment of their pensions.
