Ondo State Government, yesterday, commenced physical verification and production of digital identification cards for pensioners in the 18 local councils of the state.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the exercise, organised by the Local Government Pension Transitional Department, was flagged off by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters and Special Duties, Bola Taiwo, at Igbara-Oke in Ifedore Local Council.

Taiwo said that the verification and production of digital identification cards for the pensioners would help the government in the bulk defrayment of their gratuities through periodic and steady release of funds.

He said that the exercise was not meant to victimise or witch-hunt any pensioner but to update the payroll system, correct irregularities, and improve the overall accuracy of pension data.

Besides, the special adviser disclosed that after the verification, the government would be able to ascertain the actual number of retirees in the state’s local council system.

Taiwo, while admitting that the state did not know the actual figure of all the local council retirees, said that without accurate data, the government would not be able to plan well.

He, therefore, urged the pensioners not to be afraid of dropping their Bank Verification Number (BVN), saying that it would assist in the seamless payment of their benefits.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Pension Transitional Department, Dr Mercy Femi-Idris, said that the verification and production of identification cards for pensioners would prevent harassment of the senior citizens.

Femi-Idris said that the digital identification cards were designed to help in the process of identification of pensioners, and prevention of identity theft and fraud.

He said: “As you are already aware, the governor has restored hope to our esteemed pensioners through regular payment of pension allowances and bulk payment of gratuity.

“The bulk defrayment of gratuities of pensioners, through periodic and steady release of funds, is one of the ways of easing the pains associated with unpaid gratuities of our senior citizens.

“The exercise is two events merged into one. Firstly, it is a verification or census for our pensioners, and secondly, for the production of identification cards for all pensioners on the payment platform of our department.”