Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.
BY VICTOR NWEGEDE
Governor David Umahi has approved the payment of the backlogs of pensions not paid before he assumed office as the governor of Ebonyi State.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr Uchenna Orji made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Abakaliki.
Orji said: "The state government is desirous of clearing backlogs of pensions not paid before the Divine Mandate administration came on board in 2015 and arrears of unpaid gratuities under this administration.
"It is noteworthy to mention that this administration has paid up to date all pensions for retirees in the State Civil Service and Local Government Councils from 2015 till date."
He observed that despite the efforts of the present administration to clear all backlogs of pensions not paid before 2015 and outstanding gratuities, the wage bill for retirees and workers in the State has continued to assume an unacceptable proportion, notwithstanding records of retirement and deaths which are natural occurrences.
Orji disclosed that Governor Umahi has consequently directed a comprehensive verification of all those entitled to receive pensions and gratuities as well as those who died in active service from 1999 to date but were not given their entitlements.
"In this connection, therefore, all State retirees who are entitled to pensions and gratuities are to proceed to Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki while the Local Government retirees are to proceed to the respective local government area headquarters where they are being captured for pension, for the verification exercise," Orji explained.
This directive, according to the Commissioner, would be applied to the next of kin of those who died in active service at the State and Local Government levels.
He announced that "this exercise shall last for two weeks, effective 28th November 2022," and "all the committees slated for this verification exercise are to ensure strict compliance with the template provided for the exercise as the Government will not tolerate any act capable of undermining the positive outcomes of this verification exercise."
