PRESS STATEMENT GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO PETITION BY PENSIONERS OVER N3.5B UNPAID GRATUITIES

              PRESS STATEMENT                                   
             GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO PETITION BY PENSIONERS               
              OVER N3.5B UNPAID GRATUITIES 

Our attention  has been drawn to media reports of the two weeks ultimatum given by pensioners in the state for government to pay up their outstanding gratuities. Much as we sympathise with the pensioners over their plight and have even gone ahead to put the necessary machinery in place towards the prompt settlement of their outstanding gratuities, we take exception to the veil threat and negative slants in the press conference held by the pensioners to drive home their demands.We wish to place on record that the issue of non-payment of pensioners gratuities predates this administration. In actual fact, our records in government house clearly revealed that pensioners were last paid in the state in 2005.

It is one of several liabilities and challenges that this administration inherited from the immediate past government and it will not be fair for the pensioners to pin this problem on us even when it is glaring that we are making spirited efforts to right the wrongs of the past administration since government is a continuum.We want to assure our pensioners for the umpteenth time that we are concerned about their plight and government is working assiduously to ensure prompt settlement of all the outstanding gratuities.

We have before us, the report of the committee instituted by government to look into this matter and we will in no time take action that will be in the interest of not just the pensioners but the state as a whole. It is pertinent to state that our resolve and commitment as a government to plug all loopholes and corrupt channels used to siphon money out of the state should be encouraged by all.

It will surprise you that the N3.5bn claim as unpaid gratuities, most of it are cooked up figures and upon proper verification, a number of the persons whose names are on the pensioners  list awaiting payment are fictitious.We cannot continue to condone the perpetration of outright fraud by a group of syndicate who are hell bent on defrauding the system by exploiting the greed of a few corrupt civil servants.

As far as this administration is concerned, it is no longer business as usual. Every form of fraudulent act in the system  will be flushed out and those who are caught will face the music.We call on all our genuine pensioners to be patient with government as all their entitlements will be paid to the last kobo. We are out to do the right thing and the right thing must be done.

Signed

Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Bayelsa State