Adamawa State pensioners have disclosed that they are yet to receive a penny from the N1.5bn which the state government claimed to have released in order to offset part of their backlog of gratuity amounting to N27bn, saying that such claim by the government amounted to outright lies.
Towards the end of last year, governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has disclosed releasing the sum of N1.5bn to the state pension board so as to offset the backlog of gratuity of pensioners.
The governor’s action came shortly after the chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Samson Almuru said the state government owed pensioners a gratuity backlog of about N27bn accusing the government of not paying a kobo to offset gratuities since he assumed office.
Making the revelation during a chat with newsmen, the Public Relations Officer of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) Adamawa State chapter, Ahmed Buba said no pensioner was paid a dime since the government announced the release of such funds.
“We have been hearing stories that governor Fintiri has released N1.5bn to state or local government pension board to offset pension arrears. As far as Nigerian Union of Pensioners Adamawa State is concerned, there hasn’t been one kobo released to anybody in the name of pensions in Adamawa state.
“If there is one kobo released to either of the two boards it stands with them but as far as the union is concerned, one kobo has not been released because we have not seen one pensioner who has come to the board with his cheque to show us that he has been paid his pension or gratuity,” he said.
Buba who decried the pathetic situation of pensioners in the state noted that since the coming of the Fintiri led PDP government about two years ago, the government never paid a kobo as gratuity making the gratuity liability to rise to N27 billion.
“Almost two years ago, no pensioner has received gratuity. If there is, then it is through the backdoor,” he disclosed.
While describing the N1.5bn as too meagre, the PRO said even if it is true such fund were released, only few people will be paid especially in consideration of the huge amount permanent secretaries get.
“We have a backlog of about N27 billion of gratuity and most of the money belong to the Permanent Secretaries. Let’s assume that the government truly avail the N1.5bn. The question is where will that go. The moment you settle five to six permanent secretaries the money would have gone, the bulk of the pensioners would have gone with nothing,” he added.
Buba who lamented the lack of synergy between the pensioners and pension boards in the state noted that it would have cost the pension board nothing to approach the pensioners’ union about the release of the N1.5bn so that the pensioners will be in the picture.
He noted that such attitude made the pensioners to feel that something was fishy about the arrangement, adding that the posture equally made the pensioners not to take the government seriously and even made a lot of them to nurture the feelings that the statement was a mere political gimmick.
“We are not on the same page with the pension boards in the state because no body has come to tell us that he has received a cheque or cash in respect of gratuity. If money was released, that money is still with them.
“If they have received such funds, the logical thing is to call my chairman or me and tell us that they have received the money and to tell us that they will disburse the money. If that has happened, the NUP would have been happy,” he said.
