Paris Club refund: Pensioners battle Adamawa government as FG releases N9b

The faceoff between Nigeria Union of Pensioners and Adamawa State government is generating fresh controversy about how Paris Club refunds released to Adamawa by federal government should be disbursed. While the state government insists that it spent 68% of the funds on salaries and pension arrears, the union said not a single retiree benefitted from […]

The faceoff between Nigeria Union of Pensioners and Adamawa State government is generating fresh controversy about how Paris Club refunds released to Adamawa by federal government should be disbursed.

While the state government insists that it spent 68% of the funds on salaries and pension arrears, the union said not a single retiree benefitted from the money meant for workers and retirees.

The Commissioner for Finance Mahmud Sali Yunusa who spoke at a press  conference  confirmed the state had  received more than N9 billion as first tranche of the funds, saying government was working to enrol pensioners on e-payment for smooth disbursement.

"We are to expend 50 per cent on arrears, but we ended up spending 68 per cent on that to show the commitment of the governor to addressing the plight of workers and pensioners", he stated.

The state chairman of the union, Samson Almuru had last week accused  government of refusal to settle pension arrears despite clear directive from federal government to that effect.

Almuru said even the N1 billion announced by government a month ago for payment of pension arrears had not been released, causing unnecessary hardship for retirees.