The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has commended the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for signing the bill to scrap the paying of pensions to ex-governors in the state into law, News About Nigeria reports.
The party disclosed this in a statement by the National Vice Chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, and the National Organising Secretary, Emmanuel Igbokwe.
While saluting the courage of the governor and the lawmakers in abrogating the pension law, the party described the pension payment as self-serving.
According to them, the abolished law was never in the interest of the people but only protected the selfish interests of the few that had made themselves so rich at the expense of the people.
“Abia’s resources should be deployed evenly to promote public interest and developments across all sectors and strata of society,” they stated.
APGA further noted that life had become miserable for many pensioners in the state due to the gross neglect and careless attitude of the previous administration and therefore urged the governor to ensure he does not go back on his campaign promise to clear the backlog of pension arrears of Abia retirees and salary arrears of workers that accumulated under the watch of his predecessors.
He also urged the governor not to dash the hope of Abia pensioners, who now look forward to the governor’s promise to pay them the accumulated arrears.
The party commended the governor for his efforts to develop the state, especially his infrastructural strides.
“While the governor’s role in facilitating the project is commendable, members of the public should be allowed to sing the praise of the governor based on verifiable evidence.
“We are all happy that, at last, the Geometric Power Plant Aba has come on board. We are also very hopeful that the public power supply in Aba will improve in the days ahead. But for now, the blind man can only be told that there is not enough oil and no salt in the soup,” APGA said.
