The Cross River State Government says no verified pensioner in the state or local government service is owed a pension.
This comes on the heels of an earlier peaceful protest staged by pensioners in the state.
The pensioners at their demonstration alleged that their current pensions and arias are yet to be paid.
Speaking with some local government retirees who claimed to be owned months of pension, the state commissioner for local government affairs, Stella Odey promised that every genuine pensioner will be paid once they undergo screening and are captured in the payroll.
She said the periodic screening exercises became imperative following the discovery of a high number of ghost pensioners in the payroll.
According to her, no verified pensioner is owed a dime by the state government.
She urged the protesting pensioners to cooperate with the government by submitting themselves for screening in order to be captured for payment.
Mrs. Odey disclosed that the staff now manning the pension board was directly drawn from the local governments as demanded by the pensioners so that they can take adequate care of their files and I have conceded.
The commissioner stated that Governor Ben Ayade holds pensioners dearly to his heart and does not want them to suffer hence the prompt payment of those that have been verified.
