EBSU retirees cry out over unpaid pension, gratuity, get N21.6m support

Retired academic and non-academic staff of Ebony State University (EBSU) have cried out over alleged prolonged non-payment of their pensions and gratuities, saying “many of their colleagues have died or become bedridden as a result of hardship.”

The retirees, led by Mr. Emeka Ugwoke, made the appeal in Abakaliki while recounting their difficulties since retirement.

Their agitation received a financial boost when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii pledged ₦100,000 each to 216 retirees accredited by the association, bringing the immediate support to ₦21.6 million.

Odii represented by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Darlington Onwe, said the plight of the retirees was “highly shameful” and required urgent attention, stressing that the beneficiaries had devoted their productive years to the development of the state’s knowledge sector.

He said the accreditation exercise was conducted after the retirees raised concerns over their unpaid entitlements, adding that the 216 accredited persons represented only an unofficial figure.

According to him, the actual number of affected retirees could be 400 or more, with some already deceased, others hospitalised, while several others were living in difficult circumstances without adequate support.
“This is not just a political movement, and it was not designed to score political gains or political goodwill,” he said, urging the Ebonyi State Government and the university management to urgently address the matter.

Ugwoke said the retirees had visited several media organisations to draw attention to their plight, insisting that pension and gratuity should not become uncertain after years of service.
“I cannot die in silence. That is why I am crying out,” he said, adding that many retirees were currently struggling to feed themselves and meet other household obligations.
He also disclosed that he had met Governor Francis Nwifuru earlier in the month over the issue, saying the governor told him that the university was autonomous and that its finances were outside the direct control of the state government.
Ugwoke, however, argued that the governor, as Visitor to the university, should be concerned about the welfare of its retirees and appealed for urgent intervention.
He said the retirees would continue to seek assistance from government and other well-meaning individuals until their outstanding pensions and gratuities were addressed.