Imo Assembly urged to probe unpaid teachers’ gratuities

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri 

Retired primary school teachers in Imo State have called on the Imo State House of Assembly to investigate the prolonged non-payment of gratuities and pension benefits owed to teachers who retired between 2010 and 2020. 

The retirees, through a Save Our Soul appeal, urged the House Committee on Labour, Civil Service, Pension and Productivity to intervene in what they described as years of neglect and hardship affecting thousands of former teachers across the state.

They specifically appealed to the member representing Isu State Constituency, Hon. Kingsley Emeka Ozurumba, to prevail on the executive arm of government to approve the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired teachers in the affected batches.

Several retirees who spoke to The Authority on condition of anonymity said that despite repeated visits to government offices and numerous appeals to relevant authorities, many of them have remained unpaid years after leaving service. 

They said the delay has subjected elderly pensioners to severe economic difficulties and health challenges.

“We have suffered a lot. It pains me that thousands of retired primary school teachers in Imo  State are still awaiting gratuities years after retirement. We are now calling on Hon. Kingsley Ozurumba and the IMHA Committee on Pension Matters to investigate the lingering crisis and ensure payment of the backlog,” one of the retirees said.

The affected teachers, spread across the 27 local government areas of the State, said they devoted decades to educating several generations of Imo citizens but have been left to endure hardship in retirement.

Residents and retired education workers described the situation as a humanitarian concern, noting that many pensioners now struggle with age-related illnesses, economic hardship and inability to meet basic family and medical needs.

Some retirees also complained that repeated documentation, verification and accreditation exercises conducted by government agencies had subjected elderly pensioners to stress without corresponding payment of their entitlements.

The retirees appealed to Governor Hope Uzodinma to approve the outstanding gratuities and urged relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Education and pension authorities, to work together to resolve the lingering crisis.

Efforts to obtain comments from the Imo State Government, the Ministry of Education and relevant pension authorities were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report as they need pick calls nor replied messages sent to them.

Some critics in the State were of the view that paying the gratuities would restore dignity to retired teachers and reaffirm government’s commitment to the welfare of education workers. 

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