From Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue State Local Government Pensions Board has revealed that despite the regular payment of pensions and gratuities to retirees at the local government level, the board still owes over N1.7 billion as backlog.
Making the revelation during a meeting of pension stakeholders organised by the House Standing Committee on Public Service, Appointment and Pension Matters in Makurdi, Permanent Secretary in the board, Gabriel Ameh blamed the backlog of arrears on inadequate remittance from local government councils.
He advocated for improvement in the remittance by local government chairmen to enable the board meet its obligations.
He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for keeping to his campaign promises through the prompt payment of pensions.
In a presentation, Chairman of the House Standing Committee on Public Service, Appointment and Pension Matters, Douglas Akya called for the harmonisation and centralisation of pension and gratuity matters in the state for easy administration.
He equally suggested the movement of pension and gratuity from the Office of the Accountant-General to the Pension Commission for effective and efficient pension administration as prioritised by the Alia administration.
The lawmaker also advised those involved in the administration of pensions to be brought under one roof so as to speedily address bureaucratic challenges in pension administration, and called on the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dennis Akura to ensure improvement in the monthly remittance by local government councils to the Pension Board for the payment of gratuities.
