Abiodun promises to prioritise pensioners’ welfare, others

• Pledges to increase N500 million quarterly disbursement
• Agency vows revenue generation through digital processing

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has restated the commitment of his administration to prioritise welfare of pensioners and regular payment of their pensions despite the dwindling financial situation in the state and the country at large.

The governor also said that efforts were on top gear to clear the 2011 pension arrears and increase the quarterly release of N500 million to defray backlog of pension arrears as the state’s finances improve.

Abiodun, in response to the protest by Ogun State Chapter of the Local Government Pensioners Association of Nigeria (LOGPAN) over outstanding gratuity owed its members, stated this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, yesterday in Abeokuta.

He, however, said that the state government was not aware of any N3.9 billion pension fund meant for the payment of local council pensioners in the state as claimed by the protesting pensioners.

Abiodun, who refuted the allegation that disbursement was done to favour some people to the detriment of others, said: “There is no favouritism on the payment of pension in the state. There is an established procedure to follow.”

He said a team would be sent to the pension office to verify what led to 2014 pensioners getting more pay than others from the quarterly N500 million release as alleged by the pensioners.

MEANWHILE, the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) has said the advent of digital processing of tax related issues would make its operations seamless in all the services across the state.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue, Mr. Biodun Adeleye, who disclosed this during the training for tax officers ahead of the take-off of the innovation, said the move was necessary to empower the officers for a seamless operation.

Adeleye said the agency would be at advantage when relevant officers are acquainted with a new trend of processing tax-related issues, charging the participants to see the training as an opportunity to improve on their professional skills.

Also speaking, the Consultant on Software Development, Bureau of Information Technology, Mr. Kayode Odunlami, emphasised the significance of establishing a portal for OGIRS services, noting that it would block revenue leakages, increase the state tax net and revenue generation.