By John Mkom

JALINGO—Taraba State government has said it is not owing pensioners, but N9,699,931,45 gratuities to genuine retirees.

Chairman, Taraba State Pension Board, Mr. Nuhu Abel, made the revelation in a programme, Face the Press, organised by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Matters, Emmanuel Bello.

Arc.-Darius-Ishaku

The board chairman, who was at the briefing with the Chief of Staff to the governor, Rebo Usman, said contrary to reports, the board was not owing any pensioner in the state.

He said: “We are not owing pensioners in the state. What I can tell you categorically is that we have an upstanding gratuity of about 10 months worth N9.699,931,48, which we are yet to clear.”

Corroborating the claim, Usman said every sensitive government would settle salaries of civil servants and pension to pensioners before looking into the issue of gratuity.

He said: “Maybe whoever claims to be a pensioner in Taraba State and has not been paid did not show up for the recent pensioners verification.

“I challenge anybody, who has been cleared at the exercise that has not been paid, to show up with his or her facts.”