Benue Govt inherits 163bn Pension Arrears, Justice Commissioner Says

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Government has passionately appealed to pensioners in the state to withdraw all cases from court.
It also pleaded with those who may be nursing ideas of dragging the state government to court to desist from such action .
The State Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Fidelis Mnyim explained that some of the court cases resorted to consent judgement and subsequent ganishee orders.
The commissioner said this at a stakeholders meeting held with pensioners in Makurdi just as he explained the challenges that confronted the new administration since May 29th.
According to the commissioner, arrears of pension allowances and gratuities of 42 and 96 months from the State and Local Government areas respectively amounted to N163.7 billion were inherited from the immediate past goverment.
The commissioner however, said that the present administration has been faithful to his campaign promises and obligations to pensioners by paying their allowances every month,adding that those who had retired since the assumption of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia’s government had been paid their gratuities.
According to him, “This meeting is at the instance of the governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia to see how the government can alleviate the plight of pensioners in the state.
“Since the governor assumed office, our senior citizens have been receiving their allowances every month, those who retired since the coming of this government have all been paid their gratuities.
“All the calls to withdraw cases from court does not amount to threat but an appeal to all of us so as to allow the governor to concentrate on regular payment of pension allowances and gratuities.
“As at the time the governor assumed office, the state pensioners were being owed 42 months and local government 96 months all amounted toN163.7 billion.”