Bayelsa govt expresses worry over unpaid pensions in councils, sets up review committee

Bayelsa State Government has expressed worry over increasing pension liabilities in councils in the state and called for steps to be taken to liquidate them.

To address the trend, the government, yesterday, constituted a 13-member committee to review pensions and gratuities owed by various councils.

Setting up the committee in his office during a meeting, the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said the liability is over N7 billion, which, he noted, had become a burden to the councils.

Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that though it is the responsibility of various councils to pay the pensions and gratuities of their retirees, current realities indicate that it not be possible without the intervention of the state government.

He charged the committee to quickly determine the number of the retirees, the amount involved and recommend effective modalities on how to generate funds to pay the retirement benefits.

Ewhrudjakpo, who directed the committee to submit their report within four weeks, expressed hope that the state government would assist the councils in defraying their pension liabilities.

“I want us to really do something quickly and submit the report. I will present the report to the governor, who, I believe, will do something gracious about it,” he added.

In their contributions, the Secretary to the State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekeuwei; the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Barnabas Simon; and the state Chairman of Nigerian Union of Local Government Pensioners, Chief Shell Alafa, lauded the deputy governor for the initiative.