ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT DENIES OWING PENSION TO RETIRED PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

Enugu State Local Government Pension Board Chairman, Nana Ogbodo, has dismissed as false the claims by retired primary schools teachers that their pensions and gratuities are not paid. He also denied of not having knowledge that some people are asking the retired teachers to pay, in order to have their gratuities processed. Ogbodo stated this on Tuesday in Enugu while featuring on Solid FM’s programme, Corruption Must Kpai, sponsored by WADATA Communication and MacArthur Foundation, on the true situation of pension and gratuity payment in the state.

He revealed that the state government is doing everything possible to improve the welfare of retired primary school teachers, adding that the current administration in 2015 inherited fourteen years of unpaid gratuities. The Pension Board boss lamented that previous administrations in the state did not paid attention to the plight of the retirees, a situation which placed a huge financial burden on the present administration.

Ogbodo admitted that though arrays of pensions are owed to primary school retirees, but gave the assurance that the arrays will be cleared, and reminded Local Government chairmen of their responsibility to pay pension of retired primary school teachers. On the issue that some persons are demanding money from pensioners, the chairman vowed to investigate the allegation, noting that those caught indulging in such illegal act will be severely punished.

Nana Ogbodo then asked pensioners not to hesitate to report any sharp practices to him, as no reported case will be treated with kid’s glove.