By Princely Onyenwe
Retired primary school teachers in Imo State have appealed to IMHA lawmakers to investigate unpaid gratuities and pensions dating from 2010 to 2020.
The urgent Save Our Soul (SOS) appeal has been directed to the Imo State House of Assembly, particularly the House Committee on Labour, Civil Service, Pension and Productivity, IMHA, to investigate the prolonged non-payment of gratuities and pension benefits owed to retired primary school teachers across the state.
The appeal specifically calls on the member representing Isu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Kingsley Emeka Ozurumba , to urgently intervene and advise the executive arm of government to approve the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired teachers from the 2010 to 2020 batches.
Affected retirees told our correspondent that thousands of retired teachers who completed their years of service have remained unpaid despite repeated visits to relevant government offices and several appeals for assistance. Many of the affected retirees have reportedly spent years pursuing their entitlements without success.
The affected teachers, spread across the 27 local government areas of Imo State, are mostly elderly men and women who dedicated decades of service to the education sector and contributed immensely to the training of several generations of Imo citizens.
Some residents and retired education workers who spoke to our correspondent described the situation as a humanitarian issue requiring urgent government intervention. According to them, many of the retired teachers now struggle with age-related illnesses, economic hardship and the inability to meet basic medical and family needs.
Several retirees lamented that numerous exercises conducted by the Ministry of Education, including documentation, verification, accreditation and capturing exercises, have repeatedly subjected elderly pensioners to stress and hardship without corresponding payment of their gratuities.
Our correspondent reports that many of the retired teachers are reportedly weak, sick and physically challenged, making repeated visits to government offices increasingly difficult. Stakeholders argue that such senior citizens should not be subjected to unnecessary bureaucratic procedures after years of meritorious service to the state.
Aggrieved Imolites interviewed by our correspondent have also expressed concern that government should not wait for aged pensioners to embark on statewide protests before addressing their demands, considering their health conditions and economic realities.
Some affected retirees who spoke with journalists appealed to Governor Hope Uzodinma to treat the matter as a priority and approve the payment of the outstanding gratuities. They also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support efforts aimed at improving the welfare of retired teachers in Imo State.
The appeal further urges the Imo State Ministry of Education, the State Universal Basic Education Board, pension authorities and other relevant agencies to work together in resolving the lingering gratuity crisis.
Education stakeholders insist that prompt payment of gratuities is not only a legal obligation but also a moral responsibility owed to those who devoted their productive years to educating future generations.
As public concern continues to grow, many residents are now looking up to the Imo State House of Assembly and its Committees on Education, Labour , Civil Service, Pension and Productivity, to investigate the matter and facilitate immediate government action to bring relief to the affected retirees.
“They taught Imo’s children. Now they beg for their gratuities. IMHA is urged to act before more retired teachers suffer in silence.”
“We have suffered a lot. It pains me that thousands of retired primary school teachers in Imo are still awaiting gratuities years after retirement. We are now calling on Hon. Kingsley Ozurumba and the IMHA committee on pension matters to investigate the lingering crisis and pay the accrued backlog”
As pressure mounts, stakeholders insist that resolving the prolonged gratuity crisis would not only restore dignity to retired teachers but also reaffirm government’s commitment to the welfare of education workers who dedicated their lives to building future generations in Imo State.
Efforts to obtain official comments from IMSG , the Ministry of Education and relevant pension authorities were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
