Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom has disclosed that the State Government
is owing over N22 billion as a gratuity of the state’s workers.
Ortom stated this during the inauguration of the Chairman and members of
the State Pension Commission in Makurdi.
He disclosed that he inherited N18 billion gratuity liability in 2015, and
that because of the paucity of funds to upset the debt coupled with an
additional number of retired workers overtime, the debt had risen to N22
billion.
He further disclosed that the monthly pension bill of the state was now
N800 million as against the N400 million bill he inherited in 2015.
The governor said the state needed to urgently commence full domestication
of the National Contributory Pensions Scheme Act 2004 to mitigate the
sufferings of retirees.
Ortom warned the commission members to be wary of people who may want to
sabotage their efforts with the aim of enriching themselves to the detriment of
the pensioners.
Speaking on behalf of the inaugurated commission members, the Chairman,
State Pension Commission, Terna Ahua, pledged to provide a permanent solution
to the problem of retirees.
Other members to serve as commissioners on the commission include: Ruth
Ijir, Administration and Technical Services, Joseph Venda, Technology and Pension
administration and Pius Idoko, Finance and Investments.
