…says, over 2000 ghost pensioners expunged
By Onwa Ekor, Calabar.
In a bid to address the outstanding issues of retired civil and public servants gratuities, Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has approved the sum of N10 billion for the first phase of payments.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nsa Gill, and made available to newsmen also indicates that Otu, equally approved the constitution of the executives of the state and local government pension unions to be headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Anthony Owan-Enoh.
The committee according to the statement, is expected to meet with the SSG on Monday, July 29 in order to fashion out ways for the payments to the retirees.
The present administration in the state had inherited backlog of unpaid gratuities dated back to 2014.
Otu, in line with his ‘People First Mantra,’ had promised to commence payments last year, a development that was foiled due to vital steps put in place for audit and verification of the actual retirees in the state and local governments payrolls.
“So far, the audit and verification exercise has uncovered over 2000 ghost pensioners who have consequently been expunged from both the state and local government pensions payrolls.
“With the near completion of the exercise to authenticate genuine pensioners, payment of gratuities will commence in August 2024,” part of the statement read.
It also intimated that the committee led by the SSG has one week from the date of its first meeting, to submit report to government.
