By Festus Ahon

ASABA—GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has released N2 billion to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for the payment of pensioners in the state through the contributory pension scheme.

The state Commissioner for Finance,  Olorogun David Edevbie, who disclosed this  yesterday, during  a briefing after the State Executive Council meeting, said the state government was committed to the welfare of pensioners in the state.

He said that about six states were working with the contributory pension scheme, adding that Delta State government believed that it was a good platform to address the needs of  pensioners.

On how much the state was owing pensioners, Edevbie said that there were efforts to get the accurate figures, adding that Governor Okowa was aware of the plight of the pensioners.

He added that government was working to entrench a culture of paying the pensioners as and when due.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Works, Mr James Augoye,  said  Governor Okowa’s administration had awarded 48.8 kilometres of roads, disclosing  that the contractors were  paid 25 per cent of the contract sums as mobilization.

Augoye said the contractors had gone to site,  adding that some of the roads would be completed by March next year.

He said the Direct Labour Agency, DLA, would not observe the Christmas break, saying the agency  was working assiduously to ensure that the roads were free of potholes.