Lalong To Pay Arrears, Pensions And Salaries Before Xmas

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State Government has completed arrangements to pay all the arrears of its workers’ and pensioners salaries and pensions in December.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mark Longyen in Jos on Friday, December 9.

According to the statement, Governor Simon Lalong announced this during a church service organized by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, with the theme: “Plateau Unites in Prayer and Praise.”

It says the Governor disclosed that government decided to pay the arrears after receiving a part of its refund of the over deductions from the London and Paris Clubs from the Federal Government.

“When President Muhammadu Buhari promised to ensure the refund of all the over deductions to the states, I made up my mind that we cannot enter January 2017 with these arrears unpaid.

“This resolve was in line with my commitment to the welfare of workers, whether retired or still serving, as we don’t want to hear that any of them dies due to unpaid wages or pensions,” Lalong was quoted as saying.

The Governor said that he would continue to give workers’ welfare topmost priority, stressing that henceforth no civil servant would be owed a month’s salary during his tenure as governor.

“From today, tomorrow or anytime thereafter, I’m very sure people will begin to get the credit alerts of the arrears of their salaries or pensions,” Lalong was further quoted as saying.