From TCNEWS
Abia Retired Teachers Forum ( ART- FORUM), a Forum which envisions a world where retired teachers ’enjoy prosperity in good health while actively volunteering and deploying their skills in ensuring a sustainable quality and all-round education, has called on the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT Abia State chapter, to facilitate the disbursement of the overdue retirement entitlements to the retired teachers.
In a letter addressed to the State NUT Chairman captioned “Re: Urgent Request for the Disbursement of Retirement Entitlements (2017 -2023) signed and made available to our correspondent in Umuahia by Mrs Eunice Egbuna, ART-Forum State Coordinator, the Forum regretted that none of the teachers who retired between the year 2017 and 2023 have received the entitled benefits.
To exacerbate the situation, according to the Forum, some retirees allegedly reported of being compelled to make additional payments under the guise of processing fees.
The letter which was also copied to the Abia State Governor Alex Otti; Civil Society Action Coalition on Education For All, CSACEFA; Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society, CEHRAWS; and Abia Civil Society Organizations Network, ACSON party read, “In accordance with the NUT mandate, the Union routinely collects a specified amount from active teachers, intended to be returned to them upon retirement.
Members of ART-FORUM.
“Regrettably, none of the retired individuals in question has received these entitled benefits”.
The Forum which called for a rapid/proactive step towards the request, expressed optimism that the funds would be paid to the affected retired teachers on or before the conclusion of January, 2024.
Meanwhile attempts to reach the Abia State chapter NUT Chairman, Mr. Madu Chukwujekwu on his mobile phone number 08064108xxx proved abortive, as he has not taken up the calls or returned the calls made by this correspondent, who sought to get his angle of the story.