INHUMAN FACE IN ENUGU! ₦406 BILLION IGR Hailed as ‘Victory’ While Helpless Pensioners Suffer in Silence

 

There is growing public disquiet in Enugu State as concerns mount over the welfare of pensioners and families awaiting gratuities, even as the administration of His Excellency Dr Peter Mbah continues to highlight impressive internally generated revenue (IGR) figures.

At the center of the debate is the government’s celebrated ₦406 billion IGR milestone, hailed by officials as evidence of fiscal discipline and economic expansion. However, critics argue that the true test of governance lies not in headline revenue numbers, but in the lived realities of citizens, particularly retirees who devoted decades of service to the State. Multiple complaints from affected families who spoke to Fanatic Patriots Magazine suggest that accessing gratuities and pension entitlements has become a prolonged and exhausting ordeal.

According to accounts shared with our newsroom, pensioners and next-of-kin have been subjected to repeated verification exercises, sometimes described as “verification upon verification” with significant financial and emotional tolls.

One bereaved daughter from Nsukka-Amara, whose late father served the state for 35 years and retired as a Director of Schools, recounted the process his family has endured. His father passed away on April 16, 2024, and was owed more than a year’s pension at the time of her death. 

“These are retired pensioners,” she explained. “The government asked next-of-kin of deceased retirees to come forward for verification, saying there was no need to play hide and seek. Thousands of us came out. We did verification upon verification.”

According to her, families were required to spend substantial sums navigating documentation and compliance requirements-costs he estimated at between ₦70,000 and ₦80,000 in some cases. He further stated that although officials later indicated the payments had been inserted into the current year’s budget, there has been little communication since the verification exercises reportedly conducted between May and June last year.

“As we speak, many people who waited for these payments have died-including some of the original pensioners and even next-of-kin,” she said. Her account reflects broader grievances from families who say administrative delays have compounded financial hardship and grief. The administration’s emphasis on IGR growth has been positioned as a cornerstone of economic transformation in Enugu. Yet observers argue that revenue generation must translate into visible social impact-particularly in areas such as pensions, gratuities, healthcare access, water supply, and basic infrastructure.

For critics, the central question remains: What is the value of record-breaking revenue if vulnerable retirees remain in distress? Public policy analysts note that pension administration is not discretionary spending but a statutory and moral obligation. In many jurisdictions, timely payment of pensions is considered a foundational benchmark of responsible governance. 

Further fueling the debate are claims that certain payments expected by beneficiaries have been deferred, reportedly to future budget cycles. While governments routinely adjust financial commitments within fiscal planning frameworks, affected individuals insist that prolonged delays in pension and gratuity payments inflict disproportionate hardship on elderly citizens and grieving families who offered their entire life to the state.

Beyond pension concerns, residents have also raised questions regarding the status and timelines of certain high-profile investment announcements, including a widely discussed palm produce investment deal reportedly valued at ₦100 billion. Public clarity on implementation milestones and measurable outcomes remains a subject of interest among stakeholders.

Water supply challenges have likewise been cited by some communities as ongoing issues requiring urgent and transparent intervention. It is important to note that these concerns reflect grievances and perceptions expressed by citizens and have not been independently verified in full. Nonetheless, they underscore a broader expectation that governance performance should be measured not solely by revenue figures, or propaganda machine but by the tangible welfare of citizens.

As Enugu State continues its push toward fiscal expansion and infrastructural development, many residents are calling for a recalibration of priorities, one that aligns economic growth with compassion, accountability, and timely fulfillment of obligations to retirees.

For pensioners and their families, the message is clear: revenue should restore dignity-not deepen distress.

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