James Sowole in Abeokuta
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said efforts were on the top gear to clear the 2011 pension arrears and increase the quarterly release of N500million to defray backlog of pension arrears as the state finances improve.
Abiodun disclosed this as a response to the protest last Wednesday by the state chapter of the Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN) over outstanding gratuity owed its members. The governor in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kunle Somorin, said his administration was committed to prioritizing the welfare of the pensioners as well as the regular payment of their pensions despite the dwindling financial situation being witnessed in the state and the country at large.
He noted that pension issues were not new to all stakeholders in the state, recalling that at the inception of his administration, robust dialogues were held with all the stakeholders on how to move forward on payment of pension arrears.
Abiodun, however, said the state government was not aware of any N3.9billion pension fund meant for the payment of local government pensioners in the state, as claimed by the protesting pensioners.
According to him, it was the first time such fund was heard of by the present administration.
“We are not aware of any N3.9billion pension fund as claimed by LOGPAN. If there is any, we will be grateful if they can show us the path to recovering it,” he stated.
Abiodun, who noted that the backlog of pensions is a huge sum of money, refuted the allegation that disbursement was done to favour some people to the detriment of others, declaring: “There is no favouritism in the payment of pension in the state. There is an established procedure to follow.”
He said a team would be sent to the pension office to verify what led to the 2014 pensioners getting more pay than others from the quarterly N500million release as alleged by the pensioners.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, had last Wednesday, while addressing the protesters, said the present administration was not unmindful of the plight of the senior citizens.
He sought their understanding to enable the government offset the backlog of pensions and gratuities from 2011 for that of local government pensioners and 2014 for those in state civil service.
“We inherited backlog of pensions and gratuities of 2011 from local governments, and 2014 from the state service. We are not complacent on the issue and we are working seriously to ensure that we fulfil our obligations towards our senior citizens,” the SSG added.
The state Chairman of LOGPAN, Alhaji Sikiru Ayilara, while responding, appealed to the state government to find a lasting solution towards addressing prompt payment of monthly pensions, gratuities, review of monthly pensions and the resuscitation of Board of Bureau of Local Government Pensions among others.
