The Chairman, Bureau for State Pensions, Sir Edwin E. Ogidi-Gbegbaje (KSM), has warned scammers that the Delta Government would deal decisively with any person or persons who demand money from pensioners or their family members to process their retirement benefits.
Sir Ogidi-Gbegbaje disclosed this recently when members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Delta State Council, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba, the State Capital.
Ogidi-Gbegbaje stated that those involved in the unscrupulous act would soon meet their waterloo and urged them, as a matter of urgency, to desist from it as the Bureau under his watch has zero tolerance for corruption and fraudulent elements.
According to the Chairman, the Bureau prohibits staff from demanding tips from retirees in the course of doing their job.
He disclosed that recently, the activity of a scammer whose name he gave as James Onoja Pen, via true caller with phone number 07070764813, was brought to his notice, who demanded the sum of N45,000.00(Forty-five thousand naira) to facilitate the payment for a man whose late mother’s benefit is yet to be processed.
His words: “It may have happened in the past but not now. Somebody came here in respect of pension for his late mother and he said he got a phone call from someone who claimed to have the information of the late mother correctly and demanded N45,000.00 for processing of the benefit.
“I have collected the name of the person who made that phone call, I will strongly advise and warn that anyonewho accepts such a request to give gratification to anybody for the processing or the payments for entitlement, does so at his or her own risk.
“We do not solicit for or demand for payments in the processing of pension benefits. If there is anybody who is doing so, I want to plead, let that person be exposed, “Because, if I get reliable information on those persons doing that, he/she will face the law, as I will not tolerate that and it will not be encouraged.
“And anybody who is found wanting doing that, will face dire consequences. That is my promise on it”, the forthright Bureau Chairman declared.
He said the Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration holds pensioners so dear to his heart and would do anything humanly possible to make them happy and keep to his promises.
Earlier, the Indigenous Correspondents’ ChapelChairman, Comrade Kenneth Orusi thanked the Chairman of the Bureau for his good work and congratulated him on his well-deserved appointment.
The journalists promised to pass facts/right information to the public adding that they would partner with the Bureau to disseminate its stories and make sure the public is well informed of its activities.
