Director General of the Rivers Solidarity for Good Governance, Opuoyibo Lilly-West has faulted the proposed re-validation of pensioners by the Rivers State Government.
Lilly-West expressed worry over the safety of pensioners following an announcement by the State acting Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown, asking pensioners to come for verification within six days.
He described the exercise as a recipe for stampede and possible death of retirees, accusing the State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas of being unconcerned about safety of workers and pensioners.
Recall that Brown in a Government Special Announcement on Sunday called on all pensioners on the payroll of the state government to come for re-verification.
The government asked pensioners to come along with their bank Bank Verification Number (with picture showing), passport photograph, pension ID card.
It also contained a six-day schedule for the exercise.
But Lilly-West, a former Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Service Union, questioned why over 16,000 pensioners should be subjected to a harrowing experience.
Lilly-West wondered the rationale behind the pensioners re-verification a month before the termination of the six-month emergency rule.
He queried, “How would the acting Head of Service decide to conduct a biometric exercise for over 14, 000 pensioners within six days?
“These are aged mothers and fathers, some 80-years, some 90-years and this exercise from what they said will commence from the 14th to 19th of this month.
“It raises serious concern. Previously we have had a stampede at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre during a similar verification exercise.
“Why are they in a hurry to conduct an exercise for over 46, 000 civil servants in our dear state within a space of one month? What are they looking for?”
Reacting, an official in the office of the State Head of Service who not want his me mentioned said the allegations against the Head of Service is untue.
He further said, “Accusation is baseless. Modalities are in place to ensure seemless and comfortable environment for the verification of the pensioners.”
Recall that the State Administrator while reacting to an earlier allegation of fraud through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, said the entire exercise is not meant to short-change anybody but to uncover fraid in the state civil service.
