Rt. Hon. Itam Abang Moves Motion to Summon Auditor General for Local Government

Abara Etop, Calabar

In a motion presented on the floor of the Cross River State House of Assembly, brought by the member representating Boki 1 State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Itam V. Abang, seeking the House to as a matter of urgent importance, summon the Auditor General for Local Government, Mrs Franka Inok, to appear before it and offer public explanation on the State wide Local Government Pensioners Audit exercise which removed some Local Government Pensioners names from the payroll declaring same as ghost Pensioners.

The resolution adopted by the House, also  stated that all affected Pensioners by the exercise should be reinstated and paid all entitlements while verification exercise is continuing.

The Boki 1 member, submitted that, Pensioners, after putting in Thirty Five years (35) of meritorious service and retiring, from the ages of Sixty Five to Seventy years, are always in battle with their health challenges. She also noted that conducting the exercises in Calabar, couple with the state of bad roads across the state, especially, Boki and declaring ghost Pensioners is wrong.

Members in their separate reactions maintained that Local Government Pensioners verification must be carried out in the various Local Government Headquarters with specific dates, maintaining, the House is not in disagreement with the exercise.

Other challenges the House noted Pensioners faced includes buying of drugs and paying of medical bills, so for any exercise to stop the small benefits, which is insufficient, will amount to death sentence for the Pensioners.

The House call on the State to handle Pensioners with sympathy, recognizing the sacrifice they made before handing over the State.

Members express displeasure, that State Pensioners are not empowered to contribute to the economic development of the State, like their conterparts in other States.