Akwa Ibom state government has been accused of misappropriating the sum of N5.44 billion funds meant for the payment of pension and gratuity to retirees of the Unified Local Government from 2009 to 2014 thereby causing untold sufferings and agony to pensioners.
NULGLE members have, therefore, demanded from government to vomit and pay the funds to the retirees for the six years or face unpleasant consequences.
“We gathered yesterday that the money was sourced by 7.5 per cent counterpart funding of the Contributory Pension Scheme as well as another sum of N1.44 billion Naira representing 2.5 per cent of the Mandatory Monthly Contribution that has not been remitted to the Local Government Pension Board since 2010 but with the Accountant General of the state.”
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Association for the Welfare of Retired Local Government, Akwa Ibom state, Elder (Engr.) Emmauel Usoro, made the accusation yesterday in an enlarged meeting with members of National Union of Local Government Employees (NUGLE) house and claimed that more than 54 of our members have died without benefiting their pension and gratuity.
He said: “In 2012 the Accountant General Office issued 154 cheques to Retirees of the Unified Local Government purportedly for the settlement of gratuity owed them and few days later directed the Local Government Pension Board to return the cheques.
“The Accountant General up till date has not given any explanation for withdrawing the cheques and more than 54 of the beneficiaries are now dead.”
The board chairman explained that with the formation of the new Association for the Welfare of Retired Local Government Staff, Akwa Ibom state, their plight could easily be handled and addressed much better than belonging to the National Union of Pensioners (NUP).
Addressing over 3, 000 retirees earlier, the president of NULGE, Comrade Felix Udo, appealed for calm and assured the retirees that Governor Akpabio would look into their plight, stressing that a committee had been set up for that purpose.
“I urge you to remain calm that we have a listening governor and I am optimistic that when he hears our plight he will quickly address the situation.”
