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The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affair, has urged the state Pension Bureau to clear two months pension arrears for local government pensioners before the election of the elected local government council officials in Oct 6, 2021.
The Chairman of the committee Honourable Ibrahim Alkali, made the call when the State Pension Bureau appeared before the committee for the bureau’s 2021 budget assessment at the assembly complex in Lafia.
Honourable 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 Governor Abdullahi Sule’s efforts in the payment of pension towards bettering the living conditions of the senior citizens in the state.
Ibrahim Alkali assured the bureau of the committee’s support at all times to succeed.
The Director General, Pension Bureau, Abdullahi Oseze, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Musa Aboki while presenting the score card of the bureau 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 pensioners 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.
He said the challenges was inability to settle two months outstanding pension allowance which stood at over N760, 000,000 among others.
Lateefah Ibrahim