The organized labour in Enugu State has commended Governor Peter Mbah for the prompt payment of two months of pensions to retired civil servants.
The payment included one of the two months of outstanding pension arrears following the submission of the report of the committee set up by government for the purpose.
Earlier in August, Governor Peter Mbah had inaugurated a seven-man Committee on Verification and Payment of Outstanding Pensions and Gratuities to State Retirees, chaired by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, with two weeks to submit its report.
In a statement on Friday jointly signed by the State Chairmen of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Barr. Fabian Nwigbo and Comrade Benneth Asogwa, respectively, the organized labour described Mbah as a governor who keeps his promises and who can be trusted.
The organized labour expressed appreciation to the governor for his administration’s responsiveness to the needs of the citizenry, particularly workers and retirees, saying the pensions would go a long way in alleviating the hardships occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.
The labour unions said the governor’s immediate payment of two months of pensions had raised their hopes that the payment of the outstanding one month of pensions, as well as the outstanding gratuities, would commence in no distant time.
The statement reads in parts:
“We wish to convey to Governor Peter Mbah the joy of these retirees that is reverberating among the populace.
“This laudable action is in tandem with his passion and avowal to alleviate poverty and suffering among the citizens, especially the vulnerable which the pensioners represent.
“It is pertinent to inform the Governor that these retirees, in their joyful mood, are focusing their attention on the day when the payment of gratuities will commence as all his promises to the citizens are being transformed into reality”.