I’m addressing past injustice done Abia senior citizens – Gov Otti

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said he is addressing the injustice done to senior citizens in the state by previous administrations.

The governor stated this on Thursday during a live broadcast to mark the 35th anniversary of the state.

He regretted that retired civil servants and other senior citizens in Abia State were denied their rights and left to suffer in hardship because of their unpaid gratuities for more than two decades.

Governor Otti explained that his administration has commenced the payment of accumulated gratuities and also directed that any civil servant retiring from service should get his gratuities immediately documentations are completed.

“While we have carefully kept our eyes on the future, efforts have also been made to address the injustice of the past. Nothing demonstrates this better than the recent commencement of the payment of accumulated gratuity arrears, starting from 2001.

“Beyond the decision to clear debts accumulated from more than two decades ago, I have also directed that going forward, anyone leaving the service should be paid their gratuity as soon as the necessary documentation is completed.

“The old practice of denying retirees what is due them will no longer obtain,” Governor Otti said.