Bauchi State Government has expressed worry that the Federal Government is yet to reimburse it the N2.3billion it contributed to the local government pension fund for retired local government workers in the state,
The State Chairman of Local Government Pension Board, Alhaji Danladi Abubakar, explained this while briefing newsmen in Bauchi, at the weekend, on the pathetic situation surrounding the pension system of payments and pensioners across the country.
?He said that the Federal government was supposed to pay five percent of the pension but the money has accumulated due to non regular payments of the contribution by the federal government, and therefore advised it to settle the state government to enable them pay all the retirees their pension and gratuity in the 20 local government areas of the state.
Abubakar said, “Today nonpayment of the retirees’ benefit in time is one of the major problems that led to the insecurity in the country, because the worst affected are the military retirees and other security operatives as well as civil servants.
?“If care is not taken, there is the fear that the Federal government will be doing nothing but paying pensioners since majority of Nigerian workers who started work in 1976 have now reached retirement age”
He noted with dismay the way and manner pensioners were being treated, because many of them had either died or were living in abject poverty without enjoying the fruits of their hard work. This was just as he blamed the current challenges facing the nation on maladministration and sycophancy.
The Chairman advised President Jonathan to give “24 hours ultimatum to those managing the pension resources to settle the arrears owed pensioners and security personnel who sacrificed their lives for unity, peace and progress of the nation.
“If they refuse to pay, they should be sacked and others appointed in their place to restore sanity in the payment of pensioners since the money is in billions but the officers managing the scheme don’t want to release it.
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