Pension nightmare: Retired teachers plead with Governor Eno to pay 7 years arrears

Tony Okoh, Uyo

Forum of Retired Primary School Teachers in Akwa Ibom State has made a passionate appeal to Governor Pastor Umo Eno to release the 7-year arrears of pension owed to them.

The retired teachers are traumatized by the challenging economy and the delay in payment of their pension arrears, which has left them struggling to survive.

According to a press statement endorsed by Rev. Felix I. Cookey Chairman and Hon. Emmanuel S.Udoaka Secretary, the forum recalled their enormous support for the governor and his administration and urged the government to reciprocate the gesture via clearance of the pension arrears.

The statement read, “Having cried, suffered and embarrassed for the payment of Unpaid Pension Arrears for over 10 years we appeal to Your Excellency to please approve and release the sum of about N804,158,468.44 (according to SUBEB) for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 unpaid arrears.

Help us in the face of these economic realities. Please direct those concerned to stop undue delay in payment of monthly pension.

They added, “Let the retired Teachers receive a pension when other pensioners are paid. It is shameful and embarrassing to see only retired teachers receiving pensions around the 24th of a new month.

The group appealed to the governor to
Involve the Leadership of the Forum of Retired Primary School Teachers in matters affecting them for proper guidance and good advice.

“This will promote transparency and accountability and will equally create adequate public awareness to enhance Progressive advancement” They intoned.

“The Retired Primary School Teachers in Akwa Ibom State (the Living and next of Kin of Late Teachers) wish to thank you, Your Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey for all your good intentions to alleviate the sufferings of the Retired Primary Teachers in the state and indeed all the pensioners”

While assuring the governor of their continuous support, they recalled,
“On the 26th March 2025, the Forum of Retired Primary School Teachers gathered Retired Teachers at Uyo and openly “endorsed ” you for 2027″.