The lawmaker pointed out that monthly pensions had continued to rise from N150 million to more than N500 million.
“The only alternative to phased payment of these humongous arrears is a new borrowing, which would further plunge the state into more debt.”
Pensioners who spoke with journalists lamented that some of their colleagues who retired between 2014 and 2019 had died without collecting their entitlements.
“Our major challenges have been with the state governments, many of whom have become emperors in their various states. They govern with iron hands.”
“The system was notorious for fraud. There were government officials who engaged in the diversion of funds earmarked for pensioners to personal use.”
The combined worth of the SUVs was enough to settle salaries and gratuities of at least 320 pensions, an official says.
