LG Retirees Call For Sack Of Delta Auditor General, Deputy Over Controversial Deductions Of Retirees’ Pensions, Gratuities

As controversy continue to trail the alleged deductions from pensions and gratuities of local government retirees in Delta state, the retirees under the auspices of Contributory Local Government Retirees, have called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to immediately sack the state Auditor General and his deputy.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the retirees are calling for the heads of the Auditor General and his Deputy over their role in the issue surrounding the controversial N40 billion ALGON loan.

The retirees, in a strong worded statement alleged how ALGON, in collaboration with the Secretary to the State Government, had engaged a forensic auditor to re-evaluate their accrued rights using unfavorable parameters.

The retirees alleged that the Auditor General and his Deputy for reason yet to be fathom had involved an external forensic expert of their choice who introduced parameters that led to a reduction in total emoluments instead of an increase, despite the inflationary trends and economic hardship in the country.

“Despite the existence of a well-prepared document by BA Adigun and Associates, approved by the Delta State Government and Pencom since 2011, the forensic expert introduced parameters that led to a reduction in total emoluments instead of an increase, despite the inflationary trends and economic hardship in the country”.

They blamed the auditor general and his deputy for the development, alleging that the duo misled the Secretary to the State Government and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Arising from an emergency meeting held in Ughelli recently, the retirees, condemned the arbitrary deductions of N8 million from their pensions and gratuities by the Delta State Government and ALGON after the contentious audit done by the state Auditor General and his Deputy.

The State Chairman of the Contributory Local Government Retirees, Pst Daniel Onosanimoni, and Secretary, Elder Godwin Ekelini, who made the allegations, said that the forensic audit “resulted in the removal of N4 million from each retiree’s pension and gratuity”

Specifically, the retirees blamed the Auditor General (Local Government) and his Deputy for tampering with their consolidated salary, resulting in the purported withdrawal of N8 million from each retiree.

They argued that a consolidated salary, as approved by the Salary and Wages Commission, cannot be unbundled or tampered with.

Citing the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the retirees asserted that no one has the power to alter or remove retirees’ pensions without a law permitting them to do so.

They queried the authority of the Auditor General and his deputy to remove such a “substantial amount from their pensions and gratuities”.

The retirees also highlight the significant personal income taxes they paid based on their consolidated salaries, which generated substantial revenue for the State Government, querying why the Auditor General did not raise any concerns during that time but has now decided to deprive them of their lawful rights and benefits.

They noted that the disputed accrued rights are monies that accrued to them before 2011, when they were still in service and entitled to transport, housing, and rent allowances, saying that they continued to enjoy these allowances until their retirement in 2019 and 2020.

They maintained that if the Auditor General is allowed to remove these allowances, they should be reimbursed for the years they enjoyed them.

They, however, demanded the reinstatement of the arbitrarily deducted amounts from their pensions and gratuities while also calling for the immediate removal of the Auditor General and his deputy for misleading the Secretary to the State Government and ALGON.

The retirees warned that if their demands are not met, they would have no option left than to resort to massive protests and legal action to seek justice.