Kwara LG Pension Board Refutes Bishop Amoo’s Claims, Highlights Massive Pension Reforms

The Chairman of the Local Government Staff Pension Board (LGSPB) and Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Umar Danladi Shero, has dismissed as misleading the recent comments made by Bishop Amoo during the burial ceremony of former Governor, Pa Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, at Oke-Onigbin, Kwara State.

In a statement issued by the Board on Monday and obtained by Patriotic Insights News, the management described the cleric’s remarks as “misinformation intended to discredit the remarkable achievements of the present administration” regarding the welfare of local government pensioners in the state.

Alhaji Shero clarified that contrary to the claims made by Bishop Amoo, the administration has made unprecedented strides in the payment of pensions and gratuities to retirees across the state.

According to the statement, the government has cleared outstanding pension arrears inherited from the immediate past administration, amounting to ₦3,315,686,405.33, and currently, there are no outstanding pension arrears, as monthly pension payments are now made 100% as and when due.

The statement further revealed that the government increased the monthly gratuity allocation from ₦20 million under the previous administration to ₦150 million, demonstrating a stronger commitment to the welfare of local government and Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) pensioners.

Between May 2019 and October 2025, the administration has released ₦12,025,767,470.27 for the payment of gratuities through both queue and conventional payment systems. This progress has moved gratuity payments from arrears dating back to 2008 up to June 2011, the Board noted.

Additionally, a special release of ₦5,026,525,529.55 was made to clear outstanding gratuity arrears from 2008 to May 2011, while monthly conventional payments continue based on fairness and equity, with a balance of ₦6,999,241,940.72 currently being disbursed.

The statement also recalled that in July 2023, the government implemented palliative payments to local government pensioners, which lasted through January 2025, and in May 2025, a pension increment was approved, further boosting retirees’ earnings.

Alhaji Shero emphasized that if not for the huge backlog of gratuity debt inherited from the past administration, the present government would have cleared all gratuity obligations by now.

He, however, criticized Bishop Amoo for what he described as “an uncalled-for political outburst” at a solemn funeral gathering.

“At a time the state was mourning the loss of an illustrious son, Bishop Amoo chose to misinform the public about the very problems created by those he once served,” the statement read.

“A true man of God should preach truth and peace, not politics at a funeral ceremony. His remarks were unfortunate and disrespectful to the solemnity of the occasion.”

The LGSPB Chairman concluded by reaffirming the administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of pensioners and the continuous reform of the local government pension system in Kwara State.