Governor Okowa Doles Out N5 Billion To Settle Pension Arrears

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, has approved the immediate release of the sum of N5 billion for the payment of pension arrears to retirees in the state.

www.bigpenngr.com reports that the Governor Okowa-led administration has faced harsh criticism from local government retirees, who at one point were allegedly ‘sponsored’, as claimed by the state government, to undermine government efforts to help local governments pay off their outstanding pension liabilities.

Nevertheless, according to a statement from the State Commissioner for Information on Monday, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, N2.5 billion has been released for the payment of pension arrears for state pensioners, and another N2.5 billion has also been released as a grant to the Local Government Pensions Bureau for the payment of local government and primary school retirees.

According to Aniagwu, the action was taken as part of the government’s efforts to improve the situation of the state’s affected senior citizens.

The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, was praised by the information commissioner for his stated commitment to the welfare and well-being of state residents.