Retired Permanent Secretaries in Abia State have urged Governor Alex Otti to release their outstanding severance packages and entitlements, including gratuities.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the former officials, who retired in 2023, made this appeal at a press conference held in Umuahia, the state capital, on Friday.
The retirees shared the financial difficulties they face due to delays in their severance payments, which have burdened them heavily. Speaking on behalf of the group, Nkwachukwu Agumuo argued that the government should have promptly addressed these payments, especially given the abrupt nature of their retirement.
Agumuo stressed that these funds are essential to help them rebuild their lives and support their families. While acknowledging Governor Otti’s efforts toward state development, the retirees appealed for his intervention to ease their financial challenges.
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The group highlighted numerous attempts to draw attention to their plight, including meetings with the Deputy Governor, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Secretary to the State Government, and the Commissioner for Justice.
In a prepared statement, Agumuo described the difficult conditions faced by the 30 affected Permanent Secretaries since their unexpected retirement in October 2023, saying, “We have yet to receive our severance allowances, furniture allowances, and gratuities.”
He expressed frustration over the lack of response from officials responsible for addressing their grievances, stating that they are left in a state of financial and emotional hardship.
Agumuo emphasized the retirees’ decades-long dedication to serving the state, adding, “Our abrupt and unceremonious retirement has left us without a livelihood and with lingering uncertainty about our future.”
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He also highlighted the hardships faced by their families due to delayed payments, noting, “Many of our dependents rely on our income for basic needs such as healthcare, food, housing, and education. With only minimal pensions, our families are forced to make difficult choices.”
The retirees respectfully requested that Governor Otti instruct the Accountant General to expedite the release of their severance and furniture allowances, noting they had been informed that approval for these payments is already in place.
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