Benue: We spend N700m on pension monthly – Gov Ortom

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has claimed that his administration expends about N700 million monthly on payment of pensions since he assumed office as governor of the state in 2015.

The governor, who made the disclosure while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, the state capital on Saturday, revealed that N400m and N300m is paid monthly to the state and local government pensioners in the last six years.

Governor Ortom further explained that though the release of the funds affects payment of overheads and other logistics in some Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of government, it has to be sustained in order to address the plight of the senior citizens in the state.

According to him, the release of N700 million monthly is as a result of an agreement between government and Pension union leaders in the state, stressing that it was unfortunate for pensioners to stage protest despite his efforts.

The governor alleged that his administration inherited over N70b arrears of pensions and gratuities of retirees in both the state and local government level.

Governor Ortom stated that the relentless efforts of his administration has, however, reduced the amount to less than N35b so far.

The governor said already, over N1.5b had been saved in the PENCOM account by the Benue State government, stressing that when the amount reaches N3b threshold, funds would be accessed from PENCOM to clear arrears of Pensions and gratuities of retirees.

According to him, the domestication of the PENCOM law by his administration was the best approach to ensure a lasting solution to payment of pensions and gratuities of retirees in the state.

On the preparations of the PDP ahead of its national convention slated to hold at the end of this month, the Governor said the National Zoning Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP had agreed that party positions that were in the South be swapped to the North and vice versa.

He stated that sharing of the party positions is being done, adding that the intention of stakeholders of the PDP is to ensure consensus candidates emerge for all the positions across the country.

Benue: We spend N700m on pension monthly – Gov Ortom