Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has approved the release of N843.32 million for the payment of arrears owed Local Government Pensioners from  2015 to 2018.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, made this known at a news conference with members of the Local Government Pensioners Association on Monday in Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obaseki’s approval followed his promise to clear pension arrears inherited by his administration.

“You will recall that during the May Day celebration in 2018, the governor approved N1.5 billion to defray arrears of pensioners of the unified local government system in the State.

“This recent approval of N843, 324, 509.46 is a further demonstration of the commitment of the Obaseki-led administration in Edo to ensure that all arrears of pension are cleared; ijegbai said

According to him, on a monthly basis, the Edo government deployed N264 million to pay pensioners and at the close of December, it has paid pensioners to the tune of N3.168billion.

“If you add this to the N1.5 billion that we paid in June 2018 and the recent approval of N843, 32 million, that we are paying today, it will bring the total amount used in paying pensioners for one year to N5.51 billion.

“That is what we have used to pay pensioners of the unified local government system in one year,” he said.

The commissioner assured pensioners that Gov. Obaseki was determined to clear the little arrears left after exhausting the total amount approved.

He added that between now and June, the government would pay another batch of 2009 to 2014 and thereafter, pay what was left before the end of the year.

Ijegbai, however, called on pensioners in the state to continue to support the Obaseki administration to take the state to the next level.

In his response, Chairman the association in the state, Mr. Fredrick Akinido, commended the governor for his efforts at clearing the bulk of arrears he inherited.

Akinido appealed to the governor for the harmonisation of their pension in line with the provision of the nation’s constitution, as local government pensioners were finding life difficult.