The Delta State House of Assembly has approved Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s request for N40 billion credit facility, an offer by Zenith Bank, to defray a substantial part of outstanding retirement benefits to local government pensioners.
The assembly unanimously gave the approval during its first plenary held on Tuesday. The approval was a sequel to a letter from Oborevwori, the state governor, addressed to the lawmakers, and read on the floor of the house by Emomotimi Guwor, the speaker of the house.
The governor in the letter informed the house that his administration was collaborating with the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to reduce the backlog of accumulated pensions owed to retired primary school teachers and local government employees.
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The letter said that the request was anticipated to help alleviate the plight of the senior citizens of the state who served and retired at the local government level.
The governor added that Zenith Bank had availed the 25 local government councils of the said facility in a prorated manner, in tune with their respective indebtedness to pensioners, for which offer letters had been served to the councils by the bank.
Moving the motion for approval was Emeka Nwaobi, the majority leader of the house and member representing Aniocha North Constituency. It was seconded by Perkins Umukoro, who represents Sapele Constituency.
