GOVERNOR David Umahi of Ebonyi State, yesterday, ordered
full investigation into the alleged extortion of some pensioners and retirees
by the staff of the audit unit in the Office of the Auditor-General of the
state.....
Umahi A statement by Governor Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emma
Uzor, said the issues surrounding the non payment of pensions and gratuities in
the state had been hinged on what he described as criminal padding and
inflation of pension and gratuities accruable to some retired civil servants in
the state which led the committee set up by the State Executive Council to look
into the matter and harmonize the payment. According to him, “this criminal
inflation and doctoring of figures as noticed in the payroll of pensioners and
retirees led to a special committee in charge of harmonizing the proper
entitlements accruable to each pensioner and retiree in the state and the
committee chaired by the deputy Governor has been working hard to ensure that
no pensioner is left behind. It read: “The attention of the Governor of Ebonyi
State, Engr Dr. David Nweze Umahi has been drawn to publications in some
national dailies alleging extortion of some pensioners and retirees by staff of
the audit unit in the office of the Auditor General of Ebonyi State and wishes
to put the records straight. “While the Governor expresses dismay over the
alleged extortion, he has ordered full scale investigation into the alleged
scandal. It is therefore surprising that some retired civil servants still
allege extortion from officials of the audit unit even when the payment of
pension entitlements accruable to civil servants are not within the
jurisdiction of the Auditor General of Ebonyi State. “It is also possible that
those who allege extortion were part of some bad eggs who look for ways of
inflating and doctoring their entitlements in connivance with some officials in
the state audit by refusing to appear before the deputy governor led
harmonization committee to determine the proper entitlements accruable to each
pensioner. “The governor also reiterates his earlier stance to pay all pensions
and gratuities owed retired civil servants since 1999 till date and urges the
people involved to present themselves to the office of the deputy governor who
is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring speedy payments of workers
entitlements instead of looking for shortcut to defraud the state government.”
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