Delta 2023: LGCs' retirees distance selves from endorsement of Omo - Agege

Retirees in the 25 local government councils in Delta State, under the auspices of Concerned Delta State Local Government Contributory Retirees, have distanced themselves from the reported endorsement of the governorship ambition of the All Progressives Congress Governorship Candidate for Delta State in the March 11 Governorship/ House of Assembly elections, by members of Primary School Teachers' Retirees, under the aegis of Association of Contributory Retirees, ACR, saying they were not consulted and weren't part of the meeting at Ozoro where the purported endorsement took place.

The local government councils' retirees in a statement made available to Fresh Angle International, Saturday February 11, averred that teachers group of ACR, cannot speak for them, insisting the reported resolution reached at the Ozoro meeting was for " school teachers and should not be misconstrued as the decision of all local government retirees." In the statement which was signed by Mr. Daniel Onosanimoni and Engr. Godwin Ekenini, Chairman and Secretary of Local Government Contributory Retirees, respectively, the local government retirees, noted inter - alia: "We are a non- partisan body that is poised for the payment of the pensions and gratuities of our members, using only known legal and constitutional channels to press home our demands and has not resorted to party politics by endorsing any political party or any Governorship candidate for that matter.

"We completely disown release/publicity that followed the said meeting as we remain neutral and apolitical in our approach and agitations for the payment of our pension entitlement.

"We do not begrudge any person or group of persons from associating or holding political opinions. But we object to the use of our umbrella Association and name in the promotion of the interests of a political party (the APC), among political parties on ground in Delta State. While we concede that no pensioner of Delta State ought to be owed pensions, having served for 35 years or attained the age of 60 years, we therefore use this medium to urge the State Government to expedite action with the Technical Committee put in place to clear the backlog of pension and gratuities owed the Local Government Retirees in the State.

" wish to once again commend the Delta State Government for a renewed commitment towards the payment of accrued rights of pensioners, especially, with the release of the 2 tranches of N2.5 billion each, making a total of N5 billion lately for the payment of the accrued rights of Local Government and Primary School Teachers in the State.                               

"The information at our disposal from our engagement with the Bureau of Local Government Pension at various times, indicate that there are not more than 8,000 retirees yet to be paid. Our figures are not near 10,000 not to talk of the 50,000 cited in the news. And the number is decreasing on monthly basis due to the enhanced fund release by the Governor for the payment of accrued rights.

"We therefore condemn in its entirety, the attempt by the Primary School Teachers Retirees arm to drag us into unwholesome politics and unnecessary heating up of the polity, as we do not want to be caught in any guise, in the unfolding struggles and contests among political actors, since we are ordinary Retirees supporting the government of the day to speedily pay our outstanding pensions.

"Therefore, we once again deny and reject any attempt byMrs. Ejieh and her sympathizers to draw us into any political circus show."

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