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Benue pension arrears rise from N400m to N1bn in three years – State Govt

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The Benue State Government has disclosed that its pension arrears have ballooned from N400 million to N1 billion over the past three years, following the discovery of thousands of unrecorded pensioners during a recent data verification exercise.

Despite the growing financial burden, the government has assured both workers and retirees of its continued commitment to offsetting outstanding payments.

The State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Makurdi.

Oglegba revealed that the current administration inherited heavy debts, including 48 months of unpaid salaries and pensions. “When we assumed office, we found that many pensioners had not been captured in the system for up to three years. Once we included them, the pension backlog rose from N400 million to N1 billion,” he stated.

He added that salary payments were uneven — some workers were owed 12 months, others up to seven. To address this, the government began phased payments. So far in 2024, five months’ worth of arrears have been cleared, with another five months budgeted for settlement in 2025, depending on available funds.

“We’ve paid off salary backlogs at Benue State University (BSU) and several MDAs. For others still owed beyond six or seven months, payments are ongoing,” Oglegba said.

The commissioner clarified that while the backlog is being addressed in stages, the government has never claimed to have cleared all outstanding arrears.

On the revalidation exercise, Oglegba said it yielded substantial savings by exposing ghost workers and reducing the monthly wage bill. These savings were redirected to ease pension liabilities.

He also explained that institutions like BSU and Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) are not categorized as civil service but receive monthly government support to pay their staff.

In a bid to improve welfare, the government has implemented a new minimum wage. Salaries for workers on grade levels 7 to 17 were raised from N18,000 to N75,000, while those on levels 1 to 6 now earn N75,000, up from N30,000.

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Nnamdi Kanu’s Radio Biafra paralyzed the economy of South east through the sit@home orders—-DSS

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The Department of State Services told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday that the broadcasts by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, directly contributed to economic paralysis in the South-East region.

The fourth prosecution witness, a DSS operative codenamed Mr DDD for security reasons, testified before Justice James Omotosho, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

Mr DDD, in his testimony, said Kanu’s broadcasts incited the enforcement of IPOB’s sit-at-home order through its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network.

“From my investigation, the defendant’s broadcasts directly contributed to economic paralysis in the South-East, as they fuelled the enforcement of IPOB’s sit-at-home order,”

 

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Chuba Okadigbo international airport in Ebonyi commenced full flight operations Today

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Commercial flight operations at the Wilberforce Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke, have commenced following successful rehabilitation of its runway and six months of charter test flights.

Few days ago ‎the Commissioner for Aviation and Technology, Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu, revealed that United Nigeria Airlines will commence scheduled commercial flights from June 13, offering routes from Onueke to Abuja and Lagos and today that became a reality as first commercial flight has landed at the airport

‎For now operations will run twice a week—Abuja flights on Mondays and Lagos flights on Fridays.

‎ the commissioner for aviation in Ebonyi state, has stated that Honourable governor of Ebonyi Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, has made air travel affordable by subsidizing ticket prices to a flat rate of ₦100,000 for both Lagos and Abuja routes—less than half the typical fare,” Dr. Obichukwu stated.

‎The commissioner emphasized that Ebonyi State is set to leverage the airport’s cargo facilities for international export of agricultural produce and solid minerals, including yams, rice, cassava, salt, and limestone.

“We are in talks with partners from Dubai and Canada to establish cargo flight arrangements. Ebonyi is ready for global trade,”

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Explosions in Tel Aviv as Iran launches major missile attacks on Israel

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Iran has fired hundreds of various ballistic missiles towards Israel.

Iran described it as the beginning of its “crushing response” to Israeli attacks on the country on Friday.

The development comes after Ekwutosblog reported that Israeli military carried out dozens of airstrikes on Iran.

 

Many media outlets report that smoke could be seen rising from Tel Aviv, and explosions were heard in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem following the retaliation from Iran.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, have confirmed that Iran launched major ballistic missiles against Israel.

IDF said defence systems were actively intercepting the threat.

Authorities in Israel have issued an urgent directive to all civilians to enter a protected space immediately and remain there until further notice.

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