He added that the Enugu State’s pension system has been digitalized to enhance transparency, accountability, and traceability in all transactions and payments.
Enugu, Nigeria – The Enugu State government has identified 2,640 ghost and deceased pensioners on its payroll, marking a significant step in its effort to sanitize the pension system.
This discovery was part of the broader initiative led by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to address pension-related challenges and clear outstanding obligations inherited from previous administrations.
Speaking on the development, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, announced that the state had commenced the payment of pensions to local government retirees.
According to Prof. Onyia, over 7,000 pensioners have already received their entitlements, following the completion of a biometric verification process approved by Governor Mbah.
“The governor had earlier committed to eradicating poverty in the state by addressing the backlog of pensions and other liabilities,” Prof. Onyia stated. “This move will improve the standard of living, boost purchasing power, and promote sustainable economic growth in Enugu State.”
In July, a total of 7,109 verified local government pensioners received nearly half a billion naira in monthly payments. Among them were 989 retirees who had not been included in the pension scheme despite retiring between April 2022 and April 2024.
Prof. Onyia expressed concern over the fraudulent activities uncovered during the verification process. Records from the Local Government Pensions Board had indicated that over 8,760 retirees were being paid as of April 2024, far exceeding the 7,109 verified pensioners.
The SSG reiterated the state government’s commitment to clearing all pension arrears and emphasized that the adopted payment method would ensure that these backlogs are phased out according to the government’s timeline.
“We are dedicated to supporting our senior citizens who have served the state diligently,” Onyia said. “This administration will phase out all inherited arrears, and we are implementing strong institutional policies to prevent corrupt practices in the pension system.”
He added that the state’s pension system has been digitalized to enhance transparency, accountability, and traceability in all transactions and payments.
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