The Rivers State Local Government Service Commission has reiterated its commitment to pay retirees of the Third Tier System three months after their exit from the service.
This indication was given in Port Harcourt recently by the Chairman of the Commission, Chief Azubuike Nmerukini while speaking at a stakeholders meeting of all relevant government agencies involved in the procession and payment of local government pensionaries.
Chief Nmerukini said the Commission on its part would continue to process and approve requests for retirements of staff with despatch to reduce the sufferings of retirees.
The Chairman urged the State Local Government Staff Pension Board to make sure that all known bottlenecks were removed to facilitate payment of retirees within the deadline of three months.
He disclosed that the Commission was very serious with its desire to promote staff welfare and would not tolerate any obstacles on the part of Pension Desk Officers of the 23 Local Governments in handling retirees documents.
Chief Nrnerukini advised Heads of Local Government Administration in the State to create a conducive office environment or Pension Desk Officers to operate without hitch.
The Chairman further called on the Local Government to provide monthly imprest for the Desk Pension Officers to avoid asking retirees to contribute money to process their documents.
He then directed the Retirement Committee of the Commission, headed by a Commissioner in the Commission, Engr. Kingston Idaye Jaja to carry out sensitization seminar to the 23 Local Governments in order to educate staff on pension matters.
Also speaking, the State Auditor-General for Local Government, Mr. Greg Anyanwu thanked the Commission for initiating the meeting and pledged the full co-operation of his office,
Mr. Anyanwu, however, noted that the delay in payment of pension was most times caused by the retirees who present false and incomplete documents to his office.
In his speech, the Secretary of Local Government Staff Pension Board, Mr. Telima Wokoma attributed pension payment delay to Pension Desk Officers of the Local Government who did not follow due process in processing retirees documents.
Mr. Wokoma stressed the need for regular meetings with all those involved in preparing, processing and payment of local government pensions to achieve the desired targets. ###
