Ogun moves to bring sanity in pension management

As part of measure to check impropriety associated with pension funds administration, which usually leads to financial leakages, Ogun state government has mandated all pensioners to undergo biometric data capturing and submit bank verification numbers in order to reduce huge losses recorded in the system.

Ogun State Bureau of Local Government Pensions has therefore conducted audit and biometric data capturing exercise for all existing pensioners retired under the administration of the 20 local government areas of the state, capturing 9,535 pensioners so far in the exercise with a view to enhancing prompt payment of pensions.

Speaking at the commencement of the exercise at Our Saviour, Catholic Cathedral Church Hall, a Ita Lawajoda, Ijebu-Ode, Irene Afolashade Kokumo, said that the State government was determined to ensure that all pensioners were accommodated in the data base as it moves to sanitize the sector so as to ensure that government has accurate data of pensioners on its payroll.

Kokumo noted that the exercise would assist to ascertain true pensioners, and allow government to discharge its duties at all times.

She added that the data base would give government an easy access to determine pensioners on its payroll without embarking on any physical exercise.

Kokumo maintained that government is doing all in its capacity to see to the welfare of pensioners across the State, saying that pensioners could only get paid on time and seamlessly if bank verification number is supplied, just as she enjoined pensioners who are yet to update their bank verification number to visit the Bureau and update their information.

Responding in separate remarks, Oladele Odunayo and Ogunbanwo Sunday lauded State government for prompt payment of monthly pensions, saying the exercise was able to check anomalies encountered in pensions management as pensioners are getting their benefits promptly, but urged government to consider review of their allowances.

RAZAQ AYINLA, Abeokuta