Salary scam: Dickson inaugurates Pensions’ Boards, wants real pensioners identified
Adedotun Ojo
Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson on Tuesday constituted the State and Local Government Pension Boards, with a charge on them to make concerted efforts at ensuring the physical verification of all pensioners.
Dickson who at the inauguration gave assurance that payment of those identified will commence with immediate effect, lamented the untold hardship of pensioners in the last eight months.
The chairperson of the state pensions’ board is Mrs. Jane Alek, while Sir Frazer Okuoru, is Chairman of the LG pensions’ board,
Also, while Owie Biate Igoni will serve as Secretary of the State Pensions Board, Nathan Ayibakeme, Mr. Leader Tamatimigha, Dr. Martha Akpana and HRH Darius Job are to serve as directors, with thirteen (13) ex-officio members.
The local LG pensions’ board, has Sir Frazer Okuoru as Chairman, with Mr. Mathias Otuogha as Secretary and six other members.
They both expressed their appreciation to the governor for finding them worthy to serve, pledging to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering on the mandate.
Dickson restated the government’s commitment to completely eradicate payroll fraud in the State, and charged both boards to swing into action immediately, with a view to putting smiles on the faces of the genuine pensioners at the State and Local Government levels within the shortest possible time.
In order to achieve maximum results, he advised members of the boards to collaborate with the various ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals to ensure that the names of dead pensioners and persons who are above 70 years and above that are still drawing salaries as public servants are detected and expunged from the payrolls of the government.
Dickson urged them to visit all pensioners that were too weak to come for their verification, interact with them, take their photographs as well as their ages and particulars, stressing that, the government will give the boards the needed support to do a thorough job in line with the policy objectives of the administration.
He said, “This board has a number of experienced people, who can give advice and guidance, and I call for collaboration among those on the board and the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to identify all those who are dead and are still on the payroll of the government, and those over 70-80 years still collecting salaries.
“I charge you all to ensure that all those who are going to be paid are verified. You have to verify each and every one of them, interact with them, go to them if they are too weak to come, take their photographs, very their age and particulars.”
The governor who expressed regret over the government’s inability to meet its obligation to pensioners in the state, attributed the sad development to the fast dwindling resources.
He however expressed optimism that despite the backlog of unpaid gratuities inherited on assumption of office in 2012, pensioners were never owed until about eight months ago.
According to him, the intention of the government is to reverse the trend as soon as the verification exercise is concluded and the actual pensioners identified.
Dickson said, “The government inherited a liability of about N6billion, we then worked out a mechanism where we set aside N500million for monthly payment until the last 8 months that the state allocation from the federation account started dropping.
“For about eight months the pensioners have not been paid and that is very touching because for four years, we did not fail to pay pensioners until the last 8 months.
Now for this old men and women, are on account of the failure of the leadership of the past, we are now unable to meet our obligations to them.
“We want to use this opportunity to ask for understanding, for people who gave their all for years in the service of the state. We appreciate their service to the state and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that they begin to get their pension every month.”