From Saka Bolaji, Minna
The Niger state government is owing its pensioners about N5 billion since the last payment in 2008. It has however, started paying pension arrears to 465 beneficiaries.
Director General, Niger State Pension Board, Mallam Usman Tanimu Mohammed, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in his office Minna, saying that the state has witnessed a wage bill of N1.2 billion due to salary increase.
Mohammed lamented that in the past money were remitted but disappeared in to the pockets of corrupt people, stressing that efforts are in place to ascertain those involved in the scam as since 2007.
He confirmed the planned protest by a group of affected persons which was curtailed after they reached an understanding with the state government and his office, hence the payment made to 300 beneficiaries recently.
The DG decried inadequate funds to pay all pensioners at a go in the face of inherited inadequate records of pensioners. He therefore, called for patience on the part of the pensioners, saying measures have been put in place to right the wrongs of the past.
On the reversal of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) by the state Assembly committee on pension, he that pleaded the issue be as soon as possible because the CPS remained the best option to pension payment.
Mohammed added that only 40 people have benefitted from their PFAs in the state so far.
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