The Forum of Permanent Secretaries compulsorily retired from the Abia State Civil Service in October 2023 has appealed to Governor Alex Otti to authorize the immediate payment of their accumulated gratuities and retirement entitlements.
In a communiqué issued on Monday following their July 2026 meeting in Umuahia, signed by Mr. Agomoh Nkwachukwu, the forum highlighted the growing hardship faced by senior civil service retirees due to delayed payments.
Key Highlights & Demands
- Reminder of Official Promises: The forum referenced Governor Otti’s Workers’ Day address on May 1, 2025, where the administration indicated that gratuity payments would commence, alongside commitments made prior to their compulsory retirement on October 31, 2023.
- Severe Economic Strain: Retirees noted that the prolonged delay has left many struggling to cover basic living expenses, including medical care, food, utility bills, and educational fees.
- Direct Call to Action: The group urged the governor to direct the State Accountant General to initiate the immediate disbursement of gratuities, suggesting the payment rollout start with the affected retired permanent secretaries.
- Acknowledgment of Infrastructure Progress: While expressing concern over their unpaid entitlements, the forum commended the Otti administration for its ongoing infrastructural and economic achievements across Abia State, urging the government to extend the same dedication to civil service retirees.
“The continued silence of the government on the payment of accumulated gratuities to retirees after a series of promises is becoming most worrisome… We urge his administration to kick off payment of gratuities with us,” the forum stated.
The body called on the state government to resolve the outstanding payments in the coming weeks to bring much-needed financial relief to affected retirees across the state.
