Imo pensioners resort to prayers over unpaid arrears, call on clerics to intervene

Pensioners in Imo State have appealed to the bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. A.J.V Obinna and other clerics in the state to ask the Governor to clear their accumulated pension arrears.

The pensioners, in their numbers, worshipped at the Assumpta Cathedral catholic church Owerri on Sunday, to solicit for bishop’s help.

One of the pensioners who spoke to journalists said the Governor has turned deaf ears to their repeated calls.

The retired worker who did not want his name in print said pensioners would embark on protests if the Governor fails to clear their pension arrears.

According to him, they are starving and unable to pay their bills.

“We are worshipping at Assumpta Cathedral today just to appeal to the Archbishop to help us talk to the Governor. We are dying of hunger. We are owed several months of pensions. We can’t feed ourselves and our families anymore. What have we done to deserve this?” he lamented.

Declan Emelumba, the State Commissioner for Information, had earlier tagged the protesting pensioners as ghosts, claiming the real ones had since received their pension arrears.