Bayelsa State government has disclosed that it lost over N5 billion to pension thieves over the years, saying the proposed judicial commission of inquiry on unpaid pensions was to stop the thieves.
The government denied claims of witch-hunt by the immediate past governor, Timipre Sylva, saying the former governor has no reason to fear if he is not a collaborator in the plunder of the pension funds.
In a statement today, Governor Dickson Seriake said he would not join issues with Sylva, whom he described as a drowning man. The statement was signed by Dickson’s Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson.
The governor said the people of the state can tell the difference between Sylva’s administration and his, much the same way they can tell the difference between day and night.
“The decision of the State government to set up a judicial panel of enquiry to probe the backlog of unpaid pensions and gratuities is premised on the need to address the deep seated rot and systematic failure perpetrated by some disgruntled civil servants with the active collaboration of some political leaders” the statement said.
“These persons working as syndicates have over the years siphoned N5billion meant for the payment of pensioners in the State,” said the government.
According to the statement, Governor Dickson had since assuming office, spent over N1 billion on the state pensioners.
It chided those it called “disgruntled politicians” for embarking on a campaign of calumny, and inciting some pensioners to embark on protest marches.
Governor Dickson said he decided on probing the last five years, saying they were the most traumatic years for pensioners in Bayelsa State.