El-Rufai orders investigation of N1.3 billion pension fraud

chika ebuzor

October 7, 2015 5:55 AM

As many as 1,404 pensioners did not collect their cheques, and they are being treated as probable ghosts.

The Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai's pension verification exercise has revealed a massive N1.3 billion fraud.

Reports say the State Executive Council has ordered further investigations into the precise identities of the syndicate behind the pension scam.

Sun Newspapers reports that the spokesman to the Governor, Samuel Aruwan said the fraud was perpetuated annually.

A statement released by the state, which was obtained from Sun Newspapers, reads “The report from the verification exercise was presented to the state Executive council yesterday and it showed that 2,484 ghost pensioners were identified and removed from the pension payroll.

“Another set of 1,404 were classified as probable ghost pensioners because, while they managed to get verified, they curiously failed to pick their pension cheques.

“In July 2015, the total pension payroll from the state and local governments stood at 18,265. It cost the state government N543,771,967.43 monthly to pay the pensioners. But at the end of the biometric verification exercise, only 15,781 pensioners were verified on the payroll.

“As many as 2,484 supposed pensioners did not show up at all. Of 15,781 pensioners that were verified, 1,404 pensioners did not collect their cheques, and they are being treated as probable ghosts.

“The Kaduna State Executive Council has ordered further investigations into the precise identities of the syndicate behind the pension scam.”

chika ebuzor