Enugu State Government Begins Clearing Pension Backlog; Discovers 2,640 Ghost Retirees on Payroll

 Enugu State Government Begins Clearing Pension Backlog; Discovers 2,640 Ghost Retirees on Payroll

The Enugu State Government has initiated the payment of overdue pensions to local government retirees, while also revealing the discovery of 2,640 ghost and deceased pensioners still listed on the payroll. 

This development was announced on Sunday in Enugu by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia. He stated that this payment aligns with Governor Peter Mbah's commitment to resolving the outstanding pensions and gratuities inherited by his administration.

According to Prof. Onyia, over 7,000 local government pensioners have already received payments, following the governor’s approval of the recommendations from the Local Government Pensioners Biometric Verification Committee, which recently concluded its verification exercise.

"Recall that His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, had earlier pledged to eradicate poverty in the state by settling inherited pension backlogs and other liabilities, while also maintaining fiscal responsibility to the citizens. These efforts will improve the standard of living, boost purchasing power, and drive strong, sustainable economic growth in the state," Prof. Onyia emphasized.

He further disclosed that in July, a total of 7,109 local government pensioners were paid nearly half a billion naira, including 989 new retirees who were not previously included in the pension scheme, having retired between April 2022 and April 2024.

The SSG expressed dismay at the extent of fraud within the pension system, noting that records from the Local Government Pensions Board showed that as of April 2024, the state had been paying pensions to 8,760 retirees—far more than the 7,109 verified pensioners.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to clearing all outstanding arrears, Prof. Onyia stated that the payment strategy adopted by the administration would ensure that the backlog is cleared within the timeline set by the government.

"This administration remains dedicated to supporting our citizens, especially our senior citizens who devoted their lives to serving the state. We will soon eliminate all the arrears inherited by this administration. 

"We are reforming the pension system through robust institutional policies that will make it difficult for corrupt elements to exploit the scheme. We have successfully digitalized the system to ensure every transaction and payment is transparent, accountable, and traceable," he added.