The Bayelsa State Government has issued a warning to principal officers of local government councils against any attempts to sabotage the new policy aimed at fast-tracking the payment of pensions and gratuities to retirees. Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made this clear during a high-level meeting held on Wednesday with the chairmen and top officials of the eight local government areas at Government House, Yenagoa.
Addressing the gathering, Senator Ewhrudjakpo declared that any delay in the submission of the names of retiring workers would not be tolerated. He mandated that all local government councils must submit names of retirees by the 18th of every month to the office of the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Treasury and Accounts, Mr. Timipre Seipulou. Failure to meet this deadline, he warned, would attract disciplinary action including the immediate transfer of treasurers and any officers found complicit.
He emphasized that the government’s policy to ensure monthly payment of pensions to retirees must be implemented without delay, stressing that no form of indolence, incompetence, or obstruction will be tolerated. According to him, the policy was designed to resolve the persistent issue of delayed pensions and to leave a legacy of an efficient local government system where retiring workers receive their entitlements without prolonged waiting.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Senator Ewhrudjakpo revealed that the backlog of unpaid gratuities in the state stands at about ₦4 billion. While assuring that efforts are ongoing to clear the debts, he noted that available funds would not permit a one-time clearance. Instead, a payment model would be developed in collaboration with the Technical Adviser to ensure systematic and equitable disbursement.
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The Deputy Governor urged council chairmen and treasurers to show commitment and transparency, stating that the success of the pension reform initiative depends heavily on timely data submission and cooperation. He also encouraged local government authorities to include annual leave provisions for employees as part of efforts to boost staff motivation and morale.
He expressed appreciation to all eight local government chairmen for their cooperation so far, acknowledging their contributions toward improvements in governance and project delivery across the councils. However, he warned that any local government failing to meet the required reporting deadline would face swift administrative action, as the government will not allow internal sabotage to derail its efforts.
“Our reason for calling this meeting is simple, to inform, direct, and warn,” Senator Ewhrudjakpo stated. “The decision to pay pensions promptly is final, and any officer standing in the way of this progress will be sanctioned. I will not tolerate incompetence or deliberate delay.”
He assured pensioners that his administration is working tirelessly to pay all outstanding benefits and reiterated his personal commitment to clearing pension liabilities before leaving office.
In separate remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Local Government Chapter, Mr. Noel Itade, and the Head of Brass Local Government Council, Comrade Clement Etifa, applauded the Deputy Governor’s supervision and innovative approach, which they said have repositioned the local government system for improved service delivery and accountability.
