BENIN CITY: The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all pensioners receive their lawful entitlements, assuring that no genuine retiree will be denied payment under the present State government
The Head of Service, Dr Anthony Okungbowa, gave the assurance during a meeting at Government House, Benin City, with the Commissioner for Finance, the Accountant-General of the State and leaders of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).
Dr Okungbowa stressed that the welfare of pensioners remains a top priority of the administration, while emphasising the importance of the ongoing “Am Alive” screening and verification exercise.
He disclosed that a significant number of pensioners were yet to be captured, noting that the exercise is critical to ensuring transparency and accuracy in the pension payroll.
According to him, the verification became necessary following discoveries that some pensioners were unaccounted for, including cases where payments were still being made to deceased beneficiaries.
He explained that while the government is determined to eliminate irregularities, it is equally committed to ensuring that no genuine pensioner suffers undue hardship.
He revealed that rather than immediately removing unverified names from the payroll, which could negatively affect elderly citizens, Governor Okpebholo has approved an additional grace period to allow all outstanding pensioners to complete the verification process.
The Head of Service urged the NUP leadership to intensify sensitization efforts, especially at the grassroots, warning that failure to comply may eventually compel the government to remove unverified names as a last resort.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Emmanuel Okoebor, also appealed to pensioners to participate in the exercise, urging the Union to explore alternative communication channels to reach members who may not be active online.
Chairman of the Edo State Pension Bureau, Mr Washington Osaro Abbe, disclosed that the last comprehensive verification was conducted in May 2022, making the current exercise long overdue. He announced an extension of the online “Am Alive” screening to Thursday, 12 February 2026, advising pensioners to complete the process from the comfort of their homes via pensionamalive.com.ng.
Mr Abbe warned that pensioners who fail to participate would have their names removed from the payroll from February 2026, noting that the exercise aligns with global best practices and will strengthen transparency in pension administration.
The Accountant-General, Mr Julius Anelu, said it was unsustainable to continue payments to deceased beneficiaries, stressing the need for responsible deployment of public funds.
Responding on behalf of pensioners, Edo State Chairman of the NUP, Comrade Samuel Okhuelegbe, commended the state government for its patience and pledged that the Union would intensify awareness campaigns across the three senatorial districts, including among members in the diaspora.
