Pensioners plight: Benue govt. tasks PENCOM

By Morgan Adikwu and Michael Attah

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on the Benue State Pension Commission to replicate the model of the Federal Pension Commission in the State, to find a lasting solution to the plight of pensioners in Benue.

The Governor made the call on Tuesday September 3rd, 2019 in Makurdi, when he received members of the Benue State Pension Commission led by Mr. Terna Ahua at the Benue Peoples House, Makurdi.

Gov Ortom, represented by his Deputy, Engr Benson Abounu, expressed confidence in the competence and ability of members of the Commission in providing lasting solution to the challenges being faced by Benue Pensioners.

He disclosed that the idea of replicating the Federal Pension Commission and Health Insurance Scheme is to help the state deal with the numerous challenges being faced by pensioners.

He listed the task before the Commission to include; initiating ideas on how to offset the liabilities of pension arrears/gratuity, which he said is in excess of N28 billion, how to regularise the payment of pension and how to have a functional Contributory pension system for Benue Civil Servants.

Gov. Ortom assured the Commission of government support and provision of necessary logistics to enable it take off.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Commission, and one-time state Head of Service, Mr. Terna Ahua said they were at the Benue people’s House to seek ways they can efficiently carry out the needed Pension reform in the state.
Mr Ahua promised that the Commission would work assiduously to address the problems of payment of pension in the state.
Other members of the Commission are Mrs Ruth Ijir, Mr A.P Idoko and Mr Joseph U. Benda