Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi on Thursday alleged
fraud in wage bills in the state and thereby suspended the payment of pensions
to pensioners, especially retired permanent secretaries, and directors among
others.
Umahi made this known while addressing journalists shortly
after the executive council meeting that took place at the New Government
House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, the state capital.
The governor, who spoke through the Commissioner of
Information and State Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, expressed shock over a
continued increase in the wage bills of the state.
He, however, ordered the immediate re-validation and
re-verification of pensioners in Ebonyi State.
According to him: “EXCO received a memo on the re-validation
and re-verification of Pensioners in Ebonyi State due to a continuous increase
in wage bills. The office of the Head of Service had made discoveries of
payments made to deceased pensioners in the State and this is one of the
reasons for this verification exercise.
“EXCO approved the re-validation of all pensioners in the
state beginning with the retired Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the
State.
“EXCO also further approved that payment of pensions to
these pensioners be suspended until the end of the exercise which will not
exceed twenty (20) working days after which payments to all cleared retirees
will be reinstated,” he stated.
Umahi also revealed the preparedness of his administration
to establish a public complaint and anti-corruption commission to serve as
EFCC, to prevent all forms of frauds and corrupt practices in the state.
He said: “EXCO received a memo to establish a Public
Complaints and Anti Corruption Commission Law in the State from the Honourable
Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice. EXCO members were directed to
study the draft law and make their contributions during the next EXCO Meeting.”
In a related development, the governor tasked a new
commissioner, Prof. Humphrey Nwobasi to carry out a campaign against the use of
fake fertilizer products in the state.
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