Imo : Reactions As Uzodinma Releases 8 Names Of Persons Allegedly Involved In Pension Fraud

The Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma on Saturday 4 June 2020 released 8 Names of persons alleged to be involved in pension N330m pension fraud.

The government of Imo state had earlier announced that it was embarking on a verification exercise to weed out ghost workers and pensioners on the payroll of the state government which is said to have been the reason for delay in payment of salaries and pension in line with the directive of the World Bank.
Governor Uzodinma had also accused the previous administration of failing to handover thereby slowing down the process.

Uzodinma addressing members of the public following a meeting held in the Government House with the leadership of the state chapters of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners ( NUP), Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) Led by Josiah Ugochukwu and  Austin Chilakpu respectively and also the Trade Union Congress (TUC) revealed that, the Ongoing exercise has helped to uncover over a thousand Pensioners retired as far back as 1976 who still receive pension stressing that they have all been paid. However, there are persons who according to the database available to the government have some issues which has which made it impossible to pay them.

The Governor in calling out names of the 8 Pensioners allegedly involved in the N330m fraudulent pension activity said that inconsistency with payslips and inflation of pensions and basic salaries which the pensions act frowns against was very eminent. Citing examples with the case of a retired Judge who gets N300,000 which he described as being way above his due payment. Another case was that of an SSG who though is said to have passed away yet is still receiving pension.

See Names of 8 persons as listed by Governor Uzodinma

Picture Credit : HNEM Centre

Surprisingly however, this revelation was met with different reactions. While some applauded the governor, many took to questioning the authenticity of the information provided describing it as a mere fiction and an attempt to silence the people from demanding for their salaries and pension even as demands were made for immediate arrest of the said persons and more information about the 8 persons be made available to the public.