Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says he will take a second look at the agreement the State government had earlier signed with the leadership of the Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) on accumulated arrears from past administration.
He said that his decision to revisit the issue stemmed from the homily delivered by a priest about the pension matter.
Governor Otti stated this while responding to a request made by the Chaplain of the Federal Medical Centre Chapel, Umuahia, Rev. Ernest Onyeukwu during his sermon at the 80th birthday thanksgiving service organized by the Governor for Senator Chris Adighije.
He maintained that his administration never forced the leadership of Nigeria Union of Pensioners to sign agreement under duress as the leaders had claimed.
The Abia Governor, who said that his administration spent N10 billion in paying the pensions it inherited from the previous administrations, said he was surprised that the same pensioners allowed those that owed them to speak for them against the present administration.
“However, because you have said it, I will take a second look at it”, Otti told the priest.
He thanked God for preserving the life of Senator Adighije, describing him as a good man.
Meanwhile, the pronouncement by the Governor sparked celebration among pensioners in the State on Saturday evening, as they described Otti’s new position as a welcome development.