The Imo State chapter of PDP has accused the state government of refusing to pay pensions to 11,000 retired officials. The government allegedly declared the officials to be”ghost pensioners” and has not paid them for 22 months.
The party also accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of anti-democratic activities.
The PDP spokesperson, Collins Opurozor while speaking at a press conference in Owerri on Friday, alleged that the state government owed state pensioners 22 months of pension arrears.
Opurozor also claimed that the state government had stigmatized 11,000 workers.
He said,-
“As we speak, 11,000 authentic Imo workers have been stigmatised as ghost workers and they are owed 20 months’ salary arrears. These were people verified by the past administration of the PDP, and not a dime was owed to anyone by our government.
“Worse still, 10,000) real Imo pensioners have also been classified as ghost pensioners, and the government has refused to pay them for 22 months. This wicked act has led to the death of many of these senior citizens who served our state with their intellect, their skills and the brawn of their youth.
“These unpardonable atrocities were alien to Imo State when PDP was in power. Not a single pensioner was left unpaid by our government!”.
The party also said the state government had failed to improve security in the state. They further added that “human life now means nothing in Imo State”.
“Today, Imo workers are not just denied their salaries, they are further brutally attacked, while aged pensioners are humiliated and flogged like beasts, even when their pensions are as well heartlessly denied. The journalist who had gone to film a protest by unpaid workers was beaten to a pulp by agents of this unelected regime right in front of the Government House,” Opurozor said.
However, the Imo state government denied the allegations, saying the PDP is a confused opposition party.
The governor, through his Special Adviser on Public Communications, Collins Ughalaa, said the state civil servants and retirees were satisfied with the governor because their salaries and pensions were being paid on time.
According to him-
“There is no truth in what (the) PDP alleged. This is the most worker-friendly governor. The workers receive their salaries and pensions as and when due. (The) PDP is just confused. They marvelled at his superlative performances.”
cc: Punch Ng
