By Yahaya Idris, Lafia.
The Director General Pension Bureau in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Oseze has been commended for his commitment towards payment of Pension to pensioners as at when due in the State. Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair, made the assertion during its oversight function tagged “bureau’s 2021 budget assessment. ” today in Lafia, the State capital.
Global Times Nigeria revealed that the lawmakers also urged state Pension Bureau to try in as much as possible to clear two months pension arrears due for local government pensioners before the election of the democratically elected local government council officials slated for October 6, 2021.
Hon. Muhammed Alkali, the chairman of the committee made the call when the State Pension Bureau appeared before the committee for the bureau’s 2021 budget assessment today in Lafia.
Hon. Alkali said that the payment of the two months pension arrears would not only improve on the standard of living of the pensioners but would also promote peace and development in the state.
” Ensure that you clear the two months pension arrears for local government pensioners before the coming of elected local government council officials which election is coming up by October 6th , 2021, ” he said.
The Chairman has commended the board for being up and doing in payment of pension in the state and urged to do more in that direction.
He has also appreciated Gov Abdullahi Sule’s efforts in the payment of pension towards bettering the living conditions of the senior citizens in the state.
Ibrahim Alkali has assured the bureau of the committee’s support at all times to succeed.
On his part, Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Oseze, the Director General, Pension Bureau who was represented by Musa Aboki Director of Administration while presenting the score card of the bureau has appreciated the committee for supporting their activities at all times.
” We pay monthly pension allowances regularly as soon as releases were made from the Joint Account Allocation Committee ( JAAC).
” We have severally screened retirees with the view to remove dead pensioners and ensure that only genuine pensioners are paid.
” The total number of penssioners currently stands at 6,268 and this bring down the monthly pension figure from N446, 515,629.68 as at October, 2020 to N380, 799,242. 59 as at May, 2021, ” he said.
The director general said that the bureau owed local government pensioners two months pension allowance.
” Our challenges is inability to settle two months outstanding pension allowance which stood at over N760, 000,000 among others, he said .
