Governor Bassey Otu had previously set up a committee to review the payroll of retired civil and public servants in an effort to combat pension fraud. On Friday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otu revealed that the committee had uncovered over 2,000 ghost pensioners.
While the identities of those involved in the fraud have not been disclosed, government representative Nsa Gill confirmed, “The audit and verification process has identified more than 2,000 fictitious pensioners, who have now been removed from the State and Local Government Pension Payrolls.”
Gill added that as the verification process nears completion, the payment of overdue gratuities is set to start in August 2024. The committee, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), is expected to present its report within a week of its initial meeting.
Governor Bassey Edet Otu has approved ₦10 billion to settle the outstanding gratuities for retired civil and public servants. Additionally, the Governor has sanctioned the creation of a committee, led by the SSG and including executives from the State and Local Government Pension Unions, to oversee this process.
