The governor said the state needed to urgently commence full domestication of the National Contributory Pensions Scheme Act 2004 to mitigate the sufferings of retirees.
Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom says his government owes more than N22 billion in gratuity of civil servants.
Ortom stated this on Monday during the inauguration of the chairman and members of the State Pension Commission in Makurdi.
According to him, N18 billion of the gratuity liability was inherited as he assumed office in 2015.
Today, the debt burden has risen to N22 billion, pointing out that the monthly pension bill of the state stands at N800 million as against N400 million he inherited in 2015.
The governor said the state needed to urgently commence full domestication of the National Contributory Pensions Scheme Act 2004 to mitigate the sufferings of retirees.
“The members (of the state's house of assembly) are all victims of non-payment of gratuities and pensions; so, they understand the pains of not being paid. Benue pensioners have been very patient with me and that has given me a lot of burden on my shoulder to ensure that something is done about it urgently,” said Ortom.