Retired primary school teachers in Imo State have appealed to the Imo State House of Assembly to investigate the prolonged non-payment of gratuities and pension benefits owed to teachers who retired between 2010 and 2020.
In a Save Our Soul (SOS) appeal, the retirees called on the House Committee on Labour, Civil Service, Pension and Productivity to intervene in what they described as years of neglect and hardship affecting thousands of former teachers across the state.
The pensioners specifically urged the member representing Isu State Constituency, Hon. Kingsley Emeka Ozurumba, to engage the executive arm of government and facilitate the approval and payment of outstanding gratuities owed to affected retirees.
Some of the retirees, who spoke anonymously, lamented that despite repeated visits to government offices and several appeals to relevant authorities, they have remained unpaid years after leaving active service.
According to them, the delay has subjected many elderly retirees to severe economic hardship, deteriorating health conditions and an inability to meet basic family and medical needs.
“We have suffered for too long. Thousands of retired primary school teachers are still waiting for their gratuities years after retirement. We appeal to the House Committee on Pension Matters to investigate this lingering issue and ensure justice is done,” one of the retirees said.
The affected teachers, drawn from the 27 local government areas of Imo State, noted that after dedicating decades to educating future generations, they now face difficult living conditions in retirement.
They also expressed frustration over repeated documentation, verification and accreditation exercises carried out by government agencies, saying the processes have subjected many elderly pensioners to unnecessary stress without any corresponding payment of their entitlements.
The retirees appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to approve the release of the outstanding gratuities and urged the Ministry of Education and relevant pension agencies to work together to resolve the long-standing issue.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain official reactions from the Imo State Government, the Ministry of Education and relevant pension authorities were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to the concerned offices were not responded to.
Observers say settling the outstanding gratuities would not only restore dignity to retired teachers but also demonstrate the government’s commitment to the welfare of those who devoted their lives to the education sector.
