Gov. Mbah Inaugurates Committee to Verify and Pay Outstanding Pensions and Gratuities

In a bid to cushion the effects of subsidy removal and raise the purchasing power of the vulnerable citizens of the Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah, on Wednesday, inaugurated a Committee to Verify and Pay Outstanding Pensions and Gratuities to State Retirees.

The seven-man committee is chaired by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, and has the Head of Service, Kenneth Ugwu; Accountant-General of the State, Mr. Anthony Okenwa; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Finance Management, Prof. Obiamaka Egbo as members.

Others are the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Ben Asogwa; State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo; and the Chairman, Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh.

Inaugurating the committee at the Government House,, Governor Mbah said the step was in keeping with his campaign promise to clear pension and gratuity arrears, adding that the combined effect of the payments of the arrears and the normal monthly pensions and gratuities would be the injection billions of naira into the state’s economy on a monthly basis.

The state government, earlier in the week, also inaugurated a palliative committee that will be responsible for the procurement, storage and distribution of palliatives to ameliorate the impact of subsidy removal on the vulnerable members of the society.