Retirees from five government parastatals in Abia State have called on Governor Alex Otti to urgently clear 13 months of unpaid pension arrears they claim are still outstanding.

The appeal was contained in a letter signed by the association’s chairman, Chinkwe Ikenyi, and secretary, Ikoro John Ikoro, and made available to Daily Sun.

The pensioners, drawn from the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, Abia Newspapers, Abia State Council for Arts and Culture, Abia State Housing and Property Development Corporation, and Umuahia Capital Development Authority, said they have faced severe hardship due to the delay in payments.

They explained that the affected agencies are officially gazetted and recognised under the state’s pension scheme. According to them, pension payments were halted in December 2023 due to verification concerns. They later submitted the required documents in June 2024, prompting a verification exercise approved by the governor.

The retirees noted that payments eventually resumed in January 2025 and have remained consistent since then. However, they stressed that the backlog of 13 months has yet to be cleared, leaving many struggling financially.

They described the situation as difficult, citing rising inflation, mounting debts, and inability to meet healthcare needs. The group also revealed that 13 members died during the period the pensions were withheld.

The pensioners further raised concerns over what they see as unfair treatment, pointing out that retirees from core ministries with similar status have already received their arrears. They urged the government to treat them equally by settling the outstanding payments before addressing gratuities.

Appealing for understanding, the group reminded the governor of their support during the 2023 elections and expressed hope that their request would receive prompt attention.