It’s a wave of relief and gratitude in Anambra State as pensioners openly applaud Governor Chukwuma Soludo for clearing long-standing gratuity arrears — money many feared they would never see again.

According to cbinews.tv, members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in the South-East have come out in strong appreciation of Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, after his administration cleared a hefty backlog of gratuities totalling N22 billion.

Speaking during a zonal meeting in Awka, the South-East Chairman of the union, Anthony Ugozor, explained that the outstanding payments covered the years 2017 to 2020 — arrears inherited from previous administrations.

In his words, pensioners say they are finally seeing a government that follows through on its promises, with gratuities being paid without unnecessary delays and monthly pensions now arriving consistently under Soludo’s leadership.

But it wasn’t just praise on the table. Ugozor also used the moment to urge other state governors in the region to step up and prioritise the welfare of retirees, especially when it comes to timely and fair pension payments.

He stressed the need for harmonised pension structures, pointing out what he described as unfair disparities where retirees on the same grade level receive different amounts depending on when they retired. He argued that with the proposed federal minimum pension of N32,000, states should move quickly to adjust their systems once it is officially confirmed.

He also raised concern over an outstanding N490.18 million meant for primary school pensioners from 2002 and 2003, noting that some beneficiaries have sadly passed away while still waiting for their entitlements.

From the government side, Anambra’s Head of Service, Ngozi Iwuno, reassured pensioners that their welfare remains a priority, urging calm and commending them for their years of service to the state and the nation.

Meanwhile, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chairman in Anambra, Humphrey Nwafor, called for unity among pensioners and confirmed ongoing discussions around the proposed N32,000 minimum pension. He also highlighted that the Soludo administration has been paying a non-taxable monthly stipend of N10,000 to pensioners since October 2024.

At the national level, the president of the pensioners’ union, Godwin Abumisi, encouraged retirees not to lose hope despite economic pressures, saying pension harmonisation remains key to improving welfare across the country.

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