By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has endorsed Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, for a second term in office ahead of the 2027 governorship election, citing his administration's clearance of outstanding pension and gratuity arrears dating back to 1996.
The union also conferred on the governor an award as the Most Pensioner-Friendly Governor in recognition of his administration's interventions in the welfare of retired civil servants, particularly the settlement of outstanding entitlements accumulated over three decades.
The endorsement was announced on Thursday in Abakaliki during the presentation of the award, which attracted pensioners and government officials.
Speaking at the event, the National President of NUP, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, represented by his Deputy, Comrade Abdulahi Onuh, commended Nwifuru for addressing the longstanding pension and gratuity liabilities, describing the achievement as a remarkable milestone in the history of pension administration in the state.
Onuh said the clearance of arrears dating back to 1996 was a significant accomplishment that had distinguished the governor in the area of pensioners' welfare.
"Clearing pensions and gratuity of pensioners from 1996 till date is not a small number of years. The Governor has written his name in gold.
"While in Kano, I thought that the Governor of Kano State was number one. I never knew that coming to Ebonyi State, the Kano Governor would become number two," he said.
He also expressed appreciation for the state government's plan to enrol retirees in the Ebonyi State Health Insurance Scheme, noting that the initiative would further reduce the financial burden of accessing healthcare services on pensioners and their families.
The NUP national leadership consequently urged pensioners to mobilise their families and exercise their voting rights in support of Nwifuru's second-term ambition in 2027.
Onuh said the governor's interventions had significantly reduced the burden previously placed on retirees' children, who often had to provide financial assistance for their parents' medical expenses.
"You are indebted to the Governor. Use your PVCs and show him appreciation by voting for him in the 2027 general election," he told the pensioners.
He further urged them to communicate the administration's interventions to their children, in-laws and other relatives, stressing that appreciation should be demonstrated through practical action.
In her remarks, the Ebonyi State Chairman of NUP, Comrade Anna Ibiam, said retired workers had endured years of financial hardship arising from unpaid pensions and gratuities before the emergence of the Nwifuru administration.
Ibiam lamented that several pensioners died while waiting for their retirement benefits, describing the situation as a painful experience for affected families.
"Many of our colleagues died waiting without receiving their gratuity. May their souls rest in peace.
"You came, Your Excellency, and you changed our story. You not only pay our monthly pensions regularly and promptly, you did what many thought was impossible; you cleared the backlog of gratuity from 1996 to date," she said.
She maintained that the regular payment of monthly pensions and settlement of outstanding gratuities had restored confidence among retired workers and improved their financial circumstances.
Comparing the situation in Ebonyi with reports from other South-East states, Ibiam said pensioners in the state had experienced considerable relief following the government's interventions.
She consequently announced that the Ebonyi State Council of NUP had unanimously resolved to honour and endorse Nwifuru for a second term, describing him as the Most Pensioner-Friendly Governor in the South-East.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Local Government Staff Pension Board (LGSPB), Comrade Emeka Nwonu, commended the pensioners for recognising the governor's interventions and honouring him for his administration's attention to their welfare.
Nwonu urged members of the union to sustain their support for the governor and translate their endorsement into electoral participation during the 2027 general election.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Uchenna Igwe, commended Nwifuru for prioritising the welfare of retired civil servants.
Igwe expressed satisfaction with the administration's interventions, noting that the attention given to pensioners reflected its commitment to improving the living conditions of retirees.
He said the governor's recognition by the pensioners was consistent with the administration's efforts to address their longstanding welfare concerns.
Responding, Governor Nwifuru, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Grace Umezuruike, expressed appreciation to the NUP for the award and endorsement, describing the gesture as an acknowledgement of his administration's commitment to workers' and pensioners' welfare.
The governor said the endorsement demonstrated the importance of appreciation and reciprocity in human relationships, assuring that his administration would sustain efforts to improve the welfare of retired and serving workers.
He, however, urged the pensioners to give practical expression to their endorsement by mobilising their families and relatives to participate in the 2027 electoral process.
According to him, the government would not take the union's confidence and recognition for granted.
Umezuruike, speaking on behalf of the governor, said the administration remained committed to policies and programmes that would improve the living conditions of pensioners and other categories of workers in the state.
