Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said his administration is taking steps to address what he described as longstanding injustice against senior citizens and retired civil servants in the state.
Otti made this known on Thursday during a live broadcast marking the 35th anniversary of Abia State, where he reflected on the challenges inherited by his administration and efforts to resolve them.
The governor expressed concern over the plight of retired civil servants and other senior citizens who, according to him, had endured years of hardship after being denied their gratuities by previous administrations.
He said some retirees had been waiting for more than two decades to receive payments due to them, describing the situation as an injustice that could no longer be allowed to continue.
Otti disclosed that his administration had commenced the payment of accumulated gratuity arrears dating back to 2001 as part of measures to clear outstanding obligations inherited from previous governments.
“While we have carefully kept our eyes on the future, efforts have also been made to address the injustice of the past.
Nothing demonstrates this better than the recent commencement of the payment of accumulated gratuity arrears, starting from 2001,” the governor said.
According to him, the decision to clear the outstanding gratuities was not limited to addressing debts accumulated over the past two decades but was also aimed at preventing a recurrence of the problem.
Otti said he had directed that civil servants retiring from the state public service should henceforth receive their gratuities once all necessary documentation had been completed.
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“Beyond the decision to clear debts accumulated from more than two decades ago, I have also directed that going forward, anyone leaving the service should be paid their gratuity as soon as the necessary documentation is completed,” he said.
The governor stressed that the previous practice of leaving retirees without their entitlements would no longer be tolerated under his administration.
“The old practice of denying retirees what is due them will no longer obtain,” Otti declared.
He said the policy formed part of his administration’s broader effort to correct historical injustices while simultaneously implementing measures aimed at improving the state’s future.
The governor’s remarks came as Abia marked 35 years since its creation, providing an opportunity for his administration to highlight its interventions and reflect on issues affecting residents.
Otti’s administration has increasingly focused on addressing inherited financial obligations and improving the welfare of public servants, with the payment of accumulated gratuities forming part of its efforts to restore confidence among retired workers.
The governor maintained that senior citizens who dedicated their productive years to serving the state deserved to receive their lawful entitlements without unnecessary delays.
He also indicated that the new policy would ensure that future retirees would not be subjected to the prolonged uncertainty experienced by previous generations of retired workers.