BPE remits N370bn to OAGF to settle PHCN’s workers – DG

By Etuka Sunday

Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki has said that the Bureau has so far remitted a total sum of N370billion to the Office of the Account General of the Federation (OAGF) for the payment of the former employees of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

A statement by the BPE’s Head, Public Communications, Chigbo Anichebe quoted the DG to have made the disclosure during a chat with the media after he unveiled the agency’s 2014 work plan in Abuja last Tuesday.

Dikki also stated that the committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power has verified to date, 45,136 staff for payment out of 47,913 staff.

The DG noted that after the Bureau’s nationwide field verification of the possible 4,194 PHCN retirees, 2,931 or their next of kin have been verified, leaving 1,163 yet to be verified.

He said the verification committee and the Bureau were making extra effort to ensure that the outstanding pensioners were verified and paid their entitlements expeditiously.

The BPE boss advised the pensioners or their next of kin who had not been verified to do so before Wednesday 2nd April 2014.

He said that out of the earlier 47,913 staff list obtained from PHCN, 45,136 verified staff entitlements have been cash- backed to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) for payment.

Dikki explained that 338 on the retirees list were exited staff, while 21 were cases of duplication.

He stated that 262 cases were currently being processed and 551 had already been recommended for validation by the Verification Committee on Payment of PHCN Severance Payment, following a nationwide verification exercise.