A group of pensioners under the aegis of the Concerned Retirees of Abia State Hospitals Management Board (HMB) has appealed to Governor Alex Otti to urgently intervene in the payment of their 15-month unpaid salary arrears, inherited from the previous administration.
The group acknowledged that while the arrears were not incurred by the current government, Governor Otti had earlier assured that the debts would be paid in tranches—a process that has since begun.
Speaking on behalf of the group, spokesperson Ifeanyi Mbanefo lamented that despite repeated appeals and formal letters to the Office of the Accountant General and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), no positive response has been received.
“Governor Otti promised to pay the 15-month salary arrears owed to HMB staff. He has so far paid 10 months and is preparing to pay the 11th. We’re pleading with him to remember the retirees as well and include us in the next tranche,” Mbanefo said, revealing that many of the affected retirees are bedridden and in dire need of medical care and financial support.
He added: “Even I, the spokesperson, am battling with a kidney condition. Several of our colleagues cannot even get out of bed. We appeal to the Governor to keep his promise and carry us along.”
Also speaking, Comrade Henry Nwagbara, who retired in 2024, expressed frustration over the delay in fulfilling agreements reached with the government regarding the payment of arrears. He noted that many retirees are unable to meet basic family and healthcare needs due to the outstanding payments.
The group cited multiple previous correspondences and efforts to get their dues, including letters to various government officials and a Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 8, 2018, during a meeting convened by the Deputy Governor at the time.
They urged Governor Otti to include them in the upcoming tranche of payments to bring them at par with active HMB staff who have begun receiving theirs.
