N4.3bn Pension Scam: Gov Bello Lied, Says Kogi PDP
The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has refuted the claim by the state government that two former governors of the state in the party embezzled N4.3 billion pension fund, describing the allegation as baseless and an attempt to cover its failure.
The party in a statement issued yesterday by its Director of Research and Documentation, Mr. Achadu Dickson, said Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration was only looking for an avenue to hide his incompetent, especially his inability to pay workers and pensioners their salaries and entitlements.
The party said on the contrary, pensioners were better off under the PDP-led administrations in the state.
“Once again, attention seekers and bare-faced liars are on the prowl in the Confluence State. After currying public outrage over its inability to pay workers/ pensioners’ salaries and particularly sucking from the burden of a controversial screening and staff verification exercise, the Yahaya Bello administration has retooled its jaded and largely discredited propaganda machinery.
“For the umpteenth time, its target is PDP and its two former Governors in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and his successor, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada.
“The government’s latest antics as contained in a series of media reports credited to Kingsley Fanwo, Director General Media and Publicity to Bello, in which he claimed the government had uncovered a N4.3 billion pension fraud. In short, Fanwo laboured in vain to shift the blame of non-payment of gratuities and pension allowances of retirees by his boss, to the former governors.
“Yahaya Bello’s inability or unwillingness to meet his financial obligations to workers, pensioners and contractors is legendary. Each time the government makes an attempt to explain it away, it comes off worse and more laughable.
“The nine years Alhaji Ibrahim Idris governed Kogi State still remain the golden years in the history of the state. Under him, pension funds were judiciously applied and pensioners were paid their monthly allowances as at when due. His administration also introduced pension reforms that ensured retiring staff were immediately placed on pension starting from the month they retired. In addition, he increased pension benefits through the introduction of relativity, which ensured the least paid pensioner earned a living minimum pension up from the paltry allowance they were being paid.
“Due to the high figure of outstanding gratuity benefits which he inherited and paucity of funds, gratuities were scheduled on the basis of first come, first served, subject to availability of funds. The administration religiously implemented the gratuity time table fairly without let or hindrance. Certainly, Ibrahim Idris did not supervise the mismanagement of pension funds or any funds for that matter, as erroneously alleged by Governor Bello’s garrulous spokesperson.