Gov. Okorocha releases N16.57bn for salaries, pension

The Imo Commissioner for Information, Mr Chidiebere Ezeh, said Gov. Rochas Okorocha had released N16.568 billion for the payment of October/November salaries of Imo Government workers.

Ezeh said part of the money would be used to clear pension arrears, while another part would be for free education mattesr and payment of salaries of 645 local government counselors’ salaries.

The commissioner disclosed this in his inaugural news conference at the state Government House on Thursday.

Giving breakdown on how the fund was allocated, Ezeh said N9 billion was released for the payment of workers’ salaries for October and November, while N5 billion will be used for payment of pension arrears.

Also, the commissioner said N2.86 billion was approved for construction and remodeling of secondary and primary schools, while N432 million would be used for the payment of local government chairmen and counselors’ two months salary.

He added that the government launched “Operation Zero Porthole” targeted at eliminating all potholes in the state caused by rain, to enable motorists to have a free drive.

He further disclosed that the government had approved 100 security patrol vehicles to ensure effective rural urban policing, especially during the festive period.

He assured Imo people that the government would embark on more developmental projects within the remaining few months of his administration

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State 

Lagos disburses over N178m to relatives of deceased SUBEB workers

Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) at the weekend disbursed N178,431,797.76 to relations of the 57 deceased workers.

Speaking during the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries at the LSUBEB Multipurpose Hall in Maryland, Lagos, the Executive Chairman, Dr. Ganiyu Oluremi Sopeyin, said the money was the insurance package of the government for teaching and non-teaching workers.

He said the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration had been faithful in the implementation of the payment of insurance package of civil servants because of its love for the workforce.

“The government has started paying the backlog inherited, leaving only two years (2011 & 2012), which is being worked on for approval and payment,” Sopeyin said.

He urged the beneficiaries to spend the money judiciously in the interests of the deceased.

The executive chairman announced the promotion of 3, 273 primary school teachers, noting that for the first time they were being promoted from level 16 to 17 in fulfilment of the governor’s promise to upgrade them to level 17.

He said 3, 376 candidates were presented for the promotion, 3,273 were successful, while 103 were unsuccessful.

Sopeyin urged the teachers to do more, saying: “To whom much is given, much is expected.”

He thanked Ambode for his efforts to reposition the state’s basic education.

According to him, the governor’s support had impacted on educational development.

N2.9b debt: NJC clears outstanding pension arrears

THE National Judicial Council (NJC) has offset “99 per cent” of the N2.9billion pension arrears it owed judicial workers across the country since 2007.

NJC Executive Secretary Ahmed Gambo Saleh said it had also curbed the menace of ghost pensioners in the scheme by ensuring that pensioners sign an indemnity bond.

Saleh spoke at the Ikeja High Court in Lagos on Saturday during a verification exercise for NJC workers in the state.

He said: “The NJC took over the administration of pension for retired judiciary officers, otherwise known as the defined benefit scheme in the year 2007.

“The exercise is being handled by the office of the Head of Service of the federation.

“By coming into force with the Pension and Administration Judicial Officers Act 2007, the NJC was saddled with the responsibility of administrating same.

“In 2013, the National Pension Commission also collapsed the administration of accrued benefits of retired federal judiciary staff to the NJC.

“These two developments forced a number of challenges to the council, in the sense that apart from taking over the administration of the pension, the council also inherited a huge sum of money in terms of arrears for the entire judicial officers and federal judiciary staff in the tune of N2.6 billion.”

Saleh added: “It is, however, gratifying today for me to say that the council has so far settled 99 per cent of its arrears. Not only that, the council is also up-to-date in terms of monthly pension to all judiciary pensioners; having paid the pension for the month of October, a few days ago.

“It is also pertinent to mention that, as of today, our retired federal judiciary officers and staff received their gratuities not a minute later in the day of their retirements.”

A former Lagos State Chief Judge Justice Inumidun Akande hailed the scheme.

“It was very nice and professionally done. We haven’t been having any problems. I have been coming here since I retired in 2012. They’ve been paying our pension; in fact, they pay quicker than even Lagos State. I score the exercise an A,” Justice Akande said.

Also, a former Lagos State Assistant Chief Registrar, who retired in 2003, Adisa Ayodele Sule, said: “I retired in 2003 and they don’t owe me.”