Bayelsa State Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson, has directed the State Pensions Board to commence the process of paying pensioners in the state, beginning from this week.
According to him, the payment would be done in line with the schedule already drawn up by the board which would be announced soon.
The governor in a statement on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said he gave the directive to alleviate the suffering of pensioners, despite the fact that their verification exercise was still ongoing.
Dickson thanked Bayelsans, especially the civil servants and the pensioners for their patience and understanding, stressing that the government would continue to do its utmost best “to meet its salary obligations to the workers and the pensioners.”
While expressing serious concern over the plight of workers and pensioners, he, however, urged civil servants and youths in the state, not to allow themselves “to be used by disgruntled politicians to disrupt the existing peace in Bayelsa state.”
He stated that the same politicians, who are not doing anything to assist them in getting out of their difficult situation, despite claims of being part of the Federal Government, want to use them to achieve what is clearly their selfish agenda.
