Chief of Staff to the Governor of Imo State Chief Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie yesterday put to rest the controversial issue of non-payment of pensioners in the state as he showed evidence of government compliance.
In a meeting with Independent Newspaper publishers in the state in his office (INPA), Chief Anyaehie said that what delayed the initial payment of staff salaries and pensions in the state was fraud and racketeering which earlier characterized the two parastatals.
He said that currently all pensioners in the state are automated that with ease all approved pensioners are paid without delay.
Barrister Anyaehie explained that only those who have questions to answer on their retirements are those who are not cleared by the pension board. He wondered how some people would retire as teachers only to find out that their retirement documents appear in the ministry of health.
Pointing out that such monumental fraud was akin to the pension problems as inherited by Governor Uzodinma. He disclosed that in the cause of investigation, the Governor discovered that most of the pensions were padded in collaborated with some of the civil servants.
He therefore challenged any pensioner who says that he has not been paid to make enquires to the pension board to ascertain the reason for his/her non-payment.
Anyaehie who disclosed that the first two months into the administration, that after paying for pensions and salaries, that the Governor was left with only fifty eight million naira which was very disheartening.
This ugly development he said prompted Senator Hope Uzodinma to order for a fresh verification exercise in both the civil service and pensions which hitherto gave rise to the recent discoveries. He expressed confidence and happiness in the Governor that he will definitely make a mark before leaving office.
