By Abraham Ovuoba
Date: October 2, 2026
The Ebonyi State Government has dismissed claims that the N7 million donated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2027 governorship candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, to retired staff of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) amounts to payment of their outstanding pensions and gratuities.
The government described the donation as a humanitarian intervention, insisting that it should not be confused with the settlement of their statutory retirement benefits.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr. Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, stated this in a press rejoinder issued in Abakaliki amid public discussions surrounding Odii’s reported donation of N100,000 each to 216 retired university workers.
Omebeh acknowledged the gesture but maintained that financial assistance from an individual, irrespective of political affiliation, was fundamentally different from the payment of pensions and gratuities owed to retirees.
He explained that pension administration required proper verification of records of service to determination individuals entitlements and identification of the appropriate authority responsible for payment.
He recalled that the state government had earlier cleared pension and gratuity arrears owed to state and local government retirees, covering periods dating back to 1996, through a structured verification and payment process.
According to him, the government is also working with EBSU management, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and other relevant unions to streamline pension administration and ensure the smooth take-off of the university’s pension scheme.
Omebeh called for restraint and responsible communication on the matter, urging stakeholders to avoid portraying humanitarian donations as substitutes for the formal settlement of retirement entitlements.
He added that the government remained open to examining properly documented and verified claims, insisting that the welfare of EBSU retirees required sustainable solutions anchored on due process, accountability and engagement with the appropriate authorities.
