..Names him as pensioner friendly governor in Nigeria 

By Godwin Okah 

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has tipped Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, as it’s sole gubernatorial candidate come 2027 general elections, citing his administration’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare and the clearance of outstanding pension and gratuity arrears dating back to 1996.

The endorsement was announced on Thursday in Abakaliki, the state capital, during a ceremony where the union conferred on the governor an award as the Most Pensioner-Friendly Governor in recognition of what it described as his remarkable intervention in addressing the longstanding challenges facing retired workers in the state.

Speaking at the event, the National President of NUP, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, represented by his Deputy, Abdulahi Onuh, commended Nwifuru for clearing the backlog of pensions and gratuities owed to retired workers from 1996 to date.

He described the achievement as unprecedented, noting that resolving pension liabilities accumulated over several decades was a significant demonstration of commitment to the welfare and dignity of senior citizens.

“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,” he said.

Onuh, who compared Ebonyi’s pension administration with developments in other states, said he had previously considered Kano State Governor outstanding in pensioners’ welfare but was impressed by what he witnessed in Ebonyi.

“While in Kano, I thought that the Governor of Kano State is number one. I never knew that coming to Ebonyi State, the Kano Governor will be number two.

“To clear a backlog of pensions and gratuity from 1996 till date is a very big achievement. May God elongate the life of Ebonyi Governor. The Governor has done a lot,” he added.

He also expressed appreciation for the planned inclusion of retired workers in the state’s health insurance scheme, describing the initiative as another important step towards improving their welfare and access to healthcare.

The NUP national leadership consequently urged pensioners in Ebonyi to demonstrate their appreciation for the governor’s interventions by voting for him in the 2027 general election.

According to Onuh, the governor’s policies have significantly reduced the financial and medical burdens previously borne by pensioners and their children, many of whom had struggled to meet the healthcare needs of their elderly parents.

“You are indebted to the Governor. Use your PVCs and show him appreciation by voting for him in the 2027 general election,” he urged.

He further appealed to the pensioners to mobilize their children, relatives and associates to support the governor’s re-election bid, insisting that appreciation for good governance should translate into action at the polls.

Earlier, the Ebonyi State Chairman of NUP, Comrade Anna Ibiam, described Nwifuru’s intervention in the payment of outstanding pension and gratuity arrears as a historic turning point in the lives of retired workers.

Ibiam recalled that for several years, many retired civil servants had endured severe financial difficulties, with some dying without receiving their retirement benefits.

“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 noted that the regular payment of monthly pensions, alongside the clearance of accumulated gratuity arrears, had restored hope and dignity to pensioners who had suffered years of uncertainty and hardship.

The NUP chairman also compared the situation in Ebonyi with reports from other South-East states, including Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo, where, according to her, pensioners were still facing challenges over unpaid retirement benefits.

She maintained that the Ebonyi State Council of NUP had no hesitation in recognising Nwifuru as a leading governor in pensioners’ welfare across the South-East.

“That is why we in Ebonyi State Council say, without fear or contradiction, that you are number one in the whole South-East.

“Therefore, we, the Ebonyi State Council of NUP, have unanimously resolved to honour and endorse you for a second tenure today with the award of the Most Pensioners-Friendly Governor,” she declared.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Local Government Staff Pension Board (LGSPB) in the state, Comrade Emeka Nwonu, commended the pensioners for recognising the governor’s efforts and urged them to reciprocate the gesture by supporting his re-election in 2027.

Nwonu said the award and endorsement reflected the appreciation of retired workers for an administration that had prioritised their welfare and addressed longstanding pension-related challenges.

Responding, Governor Nwifuru, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Grace Umezuruike, expressed appreciation to the NUP for the recognition and endorsement.

He described the gesture as a demonstration of gratitude and reciprocal goodwill, assuring the pensioners that his administration would sustain its commitment to improving the welfare of serving workers and retired civil servants.

The governor’s representative, however, urged the pensioners to translate their endorsement into electoral support by mobilising their families, children and relatives to participate in the 2027 general election.

“Reward and gratitude is more benefit, and also you’ve shown that one good turn deserves another.

“That’s what you have shown him today, and the government and our dear governor, we do not take it for granted, given the governor your word to have endorsed him for a second tenure,” she said.

She further encouraged the pensioners to sustain their support for the administration, assuring them that the government would not take their confidence and recognition for granted.

The endorsement adds to the growing political support for Nwifuru ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with the NUP leadership expressing confidence in his administration’s record on pensioners’ welfare.