FG Owes Pensioners N293bn in Arrears

The Federal Government on Monday confirmed that it was indebted to retired federal civil servants to the tune of N293 billion but was at crossroads of how to get resources to offset the debts.

The debts were incurred through service wide staff claims, particularly those bordering on promotion arrears, first 28 days, repatriation allowance, death benefits, among others.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, who gave this indication as part of activities marking the Nigerian Civil Service Week which commences August 3, said government was considering a phased payment formula, while the presidency has directed the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to explore ways of making the payments to the retired staff.

Oyo-Ita also disclosed that corrupt officers implicated in the ghost workers syndrome in the civil service were currently being quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Over 37,395 ghost workers were recently uncovered by the Federal Government since the inception of the current administration.

“This is the first time the administration is tackling the issue of ghost workers like this.

“We are cleaning the IPSS and a lot of suspicious names have been detected. The introduction of BVN has also helped in the detection of ghost workers.

“Many people are facing interrogation with the EFCC. You will just see them and later you won’t find them again, they have not been kidnapped but they are answering different questions from EFCC,” she said.

On alleged tenure extension of some retired permanent secretaries, Oyo-Ita explained that it was at the discretion of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint permanent secretaries or extend the tenure of any of them based on the constitutional provisions on ground.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has flagged off a comprehensive housing scheme for federal civil servants tagged Federal Civil Servants Housing Scheme (FISH).

The ground breaking ceremony took place on Monday at the Apo District, Abuja, where the president lauded the initiative of the Office of the Head of Head Civil Service of the Federation for the housing scheme.

He said the government was targeting about 5000 housing units in all the states within three years, adding that it would afford workers leverage to optimise their service output.

“I, therefore, urge workers to re-dedicate yourselves to service and contribute to good governance. This government is committed to workers’ welfare,” President Buhari represented by the Minister of State Power, Works and Housing, Mustapaha Baba Shehu, said.

Chairman of the occasion and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, represented by the Executive Director, Dangote Group, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, said the government and the organised private sector must continue to collaborate not only to build structures, but to consolidate national values and maintain existing structures to stimulate national development.

Dangote said as the civil servants are mother of all institutions, if civil service works, other institutions would work well too.

Oyo-Ita also noted that the provision of mass housing as a basic need and a necessity in every society would also contribute to the development of national economy through the generation of employment in the building and allied industries and its attendant increase in financial inter-mediation and economic activities.

“To address the nagging issues of housing gaps especially for federal civil servants, my office conceptualised the FISH programme to provide cost effective and affordable housing for various categories of workers as a means to uplift their moral, commitment, stewardship and quality of life during and after service,” Oyo-Ita said.

Independent newspaper reports.