Pension Wahala in Imo New Boss Joy Uwakwem Opens Up On Alleged Fraud

By Okey Alozie

The Imo State government new appointee in-charge of pension matters Hon Mrs. Joy Uwakwem has finally opened up on the mistakes discovered in the writing of cheques coupled with the frustrations and hardship faced by the retired workers in Imo State.

The new pension Boss in a chat with Trumpeta with our reporter in Owerri Wednesday revealed that the era of mistakes has gone.

She revealed that the mistakes made by the past officials in the writing of cheques and handling of pension matters have been corrected, adding the fraud and missing of funds that people are complaining of did not happen during that her own time. She also disclosed that the former chairman of the pension Board, Hon Barr. Chinyere Uwandu did not handover to her before leaving and this caused some confusion initially.

She maintained that things have been normalized for good. She promised to do everything possible to see that under-payments and over-payment that were discovered in the various pension cheques must be fully corrected soonest.

She further disclosed that Governor Okorocha has directed that all retired workers who have not been paid receive their money before the end of next week. “Those who received cheques must cash their money by next week” she said.

It would be recalled that Governor Rochas Okorocha recently dolled out up to N7.6 billion for the payment of arrears owed pensioners in the State somewhere but along the line the money was alleged to have been mismanaged by those in charge of pension matters. Based on that allegation the governor sacked the former Board and appointed Joy Uwakwem to be incharge.