By Ikechukwu Ani
My mum, Beatrice Nwakaego Ani, late, was a classroom teacher whose devotion to duty was examplary. She was an embodiment of the finest attributes of a classroom teacher. She started her teaching duties in Nsukka while my late dad worked as a non academic staff of the University of Nigeria Nsukka and was to later relocate to Enugu where she taught at Iva Valley primary School Enugu and Community Primary School Okpokolo Ngwo Uno. She retired without blemish in the year 2012 and for five years, wandered about pursuing her retirement benefits.
She died in the process in 2017 without the benefit. And till today, this payment is still outstanding. I have had the unenviable assignment of following up with this payment anytime an announcement is made for verification.
I have shuttled between Abuja, where I am located with my family and Enugu state where she served with all her strength. I have suffered many indignities in the course of this pursuit. The question is how much is her entitlement. But she worked for it, and that has remained my motivation for being on the road anytime there is a call for verification. The last government, never believed in paying our senior citizens their due benefits even though I learnt those with long legs were listened to and their relations paid.
Governor Peter Mbah on assumption of duty, gave a glimpse of hope when he ordered a well organised verification exercise, which ensured fair play and justice in the system. Severally I was in Enugu to follow up. As her only child, I had no choice. I wanted her to be happy wherever she is, that her labour of love to her state was not in vain. I wanted to invest the little change that should be her benefit on her grand children. She loved them to the moon and in life lived for them.
The present administration at a point seemed to have properly developed the willingness to liquidate these unpaid gratuities. I was able to complete every aspect of the verification process even at great discomfort. The message was that we should expect the payment any moment. It is now more than a year, and no one is saying anything anymore about it. This is not a good testimonial for this government that has achieved a lot in many sectors of the state. I want to believe that the Governor is not receiving the proper briefing from those who should be doing that.
I advise that he should ask questions and quickly clean up the Pension office in Enugu so that it does not dent his obviously A rating in public administration.
He has, without debate,raised the bar in defined, inclusive and quality administration in Nigeria. As an indigene of Enugu, I am proud of him and proud of what my state has become. I plead that he directs the payment of the gratuity of all retired Primary School teachers who have successfully completed all necessary verification. With this, he would have succeeded in ensuring that those like my mum who had passed on, will rest in peace.
*Ikechukwu Ani,
Omeluoha Amaeke Ngwo
Enugu State
