The Adamawa state Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has paid a surprised visit to the State Pension board in order to ascertain how the N1.5bn he disbursed for settlement of backlog of gratuities are being handled in the state.
There were complaints by pensioners claiming that the state government owes them N27 billion.
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Daily Trust recall that the government had released the sum of N1.5bn last year to the pension board for immediate payment to the retirees, however, the complaints continue amidst allegations of corruption in the board which prompted the governor’s visit.
On arrival the governor did not mince words in addressing the chairman of the board, Thomas Madi, as he said, “I have received my own negative report on what’s happening. Of course, people must complain but definitely there are some complaints, most times are genuine and need to be cleared by the board and officials in charge, so I am here to know.
“I am here to know the procedures/ process and probably the challenges you faced. Because some of the reports reaching me is that there is a tendency of recycling people, though I am not questioning your integrity.
“Another issue, is the allegations that staff here are in the habit of hiding peoples’ files, so that they must be bribed before the files are out.
“Thirdly, people are not paid their complete money until they part away with a certain amount of money. And on my own, I want to know why you are still paying 2010 and 2011, when before this management, the information from the report that was submitted to me was even in 2012, there were just some few staff that did not receive their entitlements. So what has now taken us back to 2010 – 2011? While I expected that we would have now moved to 2014,” the governor enquired from the pension boss.
After a through explanation by the Chairman Pension board, the governor expressed satisfaction with the way the management is disbursing the fund.
“The management of this board that I appointed to head this place are carefully selected and are men and women of integrity.
“I am always sure that they will always do right thing to all manners of people, but whenever allegations come up, it’s my responsibility to investigate” he stated.
