By Sylvia Okoi
The Cross River State Commissioner For Local Government Affairs, Hon. Stella Odey has restated the State Government's commitment to support the welfare of Local Government Pensioners.
Odey who stated this during a courtesy visit by the Association of Local Government Pensioners Cross River State Chapter, disclosed that the Present Administration led by Sir. ( Prof) Ben Ayade has prioritized the needs and concerns of Pensioners stressing that the state would make haste to resolve all challenges that bothers on Pensions matters.
Describing the Members of the Association as men of integrity and ingenuity, the Commissioner commended them for putting in their best during their service years and assured that she and her team would work tediously in order to Change the narrative.
Speaking further, Hon. Odey sympathized with Members of the Association for the unpleasant experience(s ) they may have encountered so far and assured that it would soon be a thing of the past. She disclosed that drastic measures have been put in place in order to sanitize the activities in Pensions Board, one of such measures according to the Commissioner, is the introduction of an automated system for payment of pensions which would commence shortly.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman Cross River State Local Government Association of Pensioners Comrade. Bassey B. Okosin Informed that the Association was formed in a bid to close the gap that existed between the Pensioners and the Government, as well as to create activities that would make pensioners become productive even in their retired state thereby improving their standard of living. He enumerated the programmes of the Association to include: Agric Extension Services, skill acquisition, Medical outreach, Consultancy services etc.
The Association Chairman decried the poor data collation in Pensions Board and revealed that, the Body has a valid data bank which can be presented to the Ministry whenever the need arises. He lamented that non payment of pensions as at when due may lead to death of Pensioners owing to the fact that most pensioners depend solely on the Pensions especially the aged and sickly ones who cannot engage in any other activities.
Pledging their unalloyed support to the Commissioner, the Chairman stated that the Association is ready to support the Ministry in their capacity whenever the need arises.
He opined that automated system of pensions payment would curb all traces of falsified information and solicited for Government's intervention in the payments of gratuity and outstanding liabilities.
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