Abia Pensioners Turn to Fasting and Prayer Over Unpaid Entitlements

• Abia Pensioners Forum holds three-day prayer and fasting in Umuahia.
• Forum seeks payment of unpaid gratuities and pension arrears from the state government.
• Coordinator Mr. Okey Kanu calls for the reversal of an agreement between the NUP and the government regarding forfeiture of entitlements.
• Recent statement from NUP leadership denies agreeing to forfeiting pension arrears and gratuities.
• Pastor Success Obinya urges pensioners to trust in God for resolution.

Pensioners in Abia State, under the umbrella of the Abia Pensioners Forum, have concluded a three-day prayer and fasting event seeking divine intervention for the payment of their unpaid gratuities and pension arrears.

The event, which took place in Umuahia earlier this week, was aimed at appealing to God for the settlement of the pensioners’ entitlements, which they claim have not been paid by the state government.

The Coordinator of the Abia Pensioners Forum, Mr. Okey Kanu, addressed the press following the religious event. He stated that the forum has been a leading voice in urging the state government to address the pensioners’ grievances. Kanu also called for the reversal of the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the state government, which the forum believes unjustly addresses the issue of pension arrears and gratuities.

Kanu further referenced a recent statement from the leadership of the NUP in Abia, who denied agreeing to forfeit the pensioners’ entitlements, adding that this statement supported the forum’s position.

During the prayer and fasting event, Pastor Success Obinya of the City Liberation Centre encouraged the pensioners to trust in God for the resolution of their financial challenges. The Abia Pensioners Forum has vowed to continue its advocacy until their entitlements are fully paid.