The Enugu State Government has revealed the discovery of 2,640 ghost pensioners as part of its ongoing pension reform efforts. The announcement was made while the government also confirmed the commencement of pension disbursements to local government retirees.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Chidiebere Onyia, stated that over 7,000 eligible pensioners have already received their payments following a thorough biometric verification process.
The verification, conducted by the Local Government Pensioners Biometric Verification Committee, successfully identified and removed 2,640 individuals who were either deceased or ineligible to receive pensions. This move is a key aspect of the current administration’s commitment to addressing the backlog of outstanding pensions and gratuities inherited from previous governments, ensuring that only rightful retirees receive their due benefits.
Professor Onyia reminded the public that Governor Peter Mbah had previously pledged to reduce poverty in the state by settling the accumulated pension debts while upholding current financial obligations. The governor’s approach is aimed at improving living standards, boosting purchasing power, and promoting sustainable economic growth across Enugu State.
In July, the state government disbursed nearly half a billion naira in monthly pension payments to 7,109 local government retirees, including 989 new retirees who had retired between April 2022 and April 2024 but had not yet been included in the pension scheme.
The SSG expressed concerns about the extent of fraud within the pension system, highlighting that as of April 2024, the state had been making payments to over 8,760 local government retirees, despite the verification process confirming only 7,109 eligible pensioners.
Onyia emphasized the administration’s commitment to clearing all pension arrears, noting that the payment strategy adopted by the government would systematically eliminate the backlog within the designated timeframe.
“This administration remains steadfast in its support for our citizens, particularly our senior citizens who have devoted their lives to serving the state. We are determined to phase out all arrears inherited by the administration,” Onyia stated.
He further explained that the state is implementing strong institutional policies to reform the pension system, making it difficult for corrupt practices to infiltrate the scheme. The digitalization of the pension system has introduced measures that ensure all transactions and payments are transparent, accountable, and easily traceable.
