Our information desk just gathered that Edo State January pension cheques remain unpaid despite Governor Adam Oshiomhole’s May Day promises.
It is fresh on individuals’ minds that Governor Oshiomhole raised the minimum wage of Edo State workers from N18,000 to N25,000.
Earlier, the Edo State government had held a public event on January 17, 2016 in Benin City to signal the administration’s commitment to workers entitlements.
That in an effort to deal with a myriad of issues related to pensions.
The state identified pensioners who retired from the state civil service in 2010 and 2011 to be paid a sum approx.
N2 billion and presented cheques to six (6) of them in the public to symbolize this commitment.
According to reports on January 18, 2016, “Edo State Government paid out a total N2 billion gratuity to 539 pensioners from the 2010/11 class.
The Governor expressed full awareness of the burden placed on pensioners by the arrears of pension payments.
He said: “I do not understand why it should take more than two (2) weeks from the time somebody retires to have all the documentation to be completed.
“Nigeria has gone beyond the age of Mungo Park.”
He went on: “Let me summarize by thanking you from the button of my heart for your support for this government and for your patience over the period and I assure you that now, the waiting time is over.
“Gratuities will be paid.
“Let me also assure you that this gratuity will not be paid piecemeal.
“Not that they will give you 40%, 50% and then you come back another day, no.
“This present gratuity will be paid in full at once.”
The Chairman, National Union of Pensioners, Edo State Chapter, Comrade Enaruna gave his vote of thanks:
“From the expression on the faces of the Pensioners, the Governor has done well. I can never thank you enough.”
Responding on behalf of other Pensioners, Mr. Omoruyi Etinosa Godspower said:
“I express my unfathomable and inexhaustible gratitude to the Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, in fact, this is historic.
“What we are really happy about is your sincerity.”
Mrs. Odion Ugbesia Lily, Mrs. Egharevba Kudirat and the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners NUP also joined in thanking the Governor on behalf of the benefiting pensioners.
The climax of the meeting was the presentation of cheques to some of the pensioners.
That is in a bid to demonstrate the commencement of payment of gratuities by Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Meanwhile, others would receive their gratuities paid into their individual bank accounts.”
On the same day, these persons were told not to lodge/present the cheques at their banks as the state will credit their respective accounts.
EARLY WARNING SIGNALS – DISFRANCHISING PENSIONERS AND STATE FINANCES
It is instructive to note that the original copies of the pensioners “Authority for Payment of Gratuity” popularly called ‘Yellow Paper’ were collected from the retirees.
That means that technically they have been paid.
This is not only outside all known accounting and civil service procedures.
However, it reflects a poor governance process for pensions by the Secretary to Pensions Board and by extension the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
Well, the pensioners submitted this in good faith, given the public nature of the transaction.
However, the non-fulfillment of this has raised concerns about the sanctity of the action and motives.
Analysts who have been covering developments in the state wonder why this development has not been tidied by the big-promising administration of Adams shiomhole.
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