The Rivers State Government says it has commenced payment of the backlog of pensions owed retired public service workers in the State.

The State Head of Service, Rufus Godwins said, so far, 800 pensioners, under the scheme, who have completed their biometrics, have been paid.

“We have placed over 800 of them on the payroll and we have started paying them. The window for biometric capture is open and we shall continue  the process  for the purpose of payment.”

Godwins explained that the payment was delayed because the Nyesom Wike led administration, had to follow due process to amend the state pension law and create the platform for payment of those under the Contributory Pension Scheme. 

He further explained that the commencement of the payments was in fulfillment of the Governor Wike’s pledge while signing into law, the Rivers State Pension Reform Law (No 4 of 2019). 

The Rivers State Head of Service said that further biometric capture of other pensioners under the scheme has been scheduled by the State Government in line with the directive of the Governor. 

He said by initiating the amendment of the State Pension Law, Governor Wike set out to comprehensively tackle the challenges in the Contributory Pension Scheme.

He said that the State Government is committed  to ensuring that civil servants and pensioners are catered for, with the challenges  they faced completely addressed.