The Oyo State Government on Tuesday began the payment of pension arrears to retired primary school teachers.

Lasisi Ayankojo, the Chairman of the State Local Government Staff Pension Board, made the development known in an interview with journalists in Ibadan.

Mr. Ayankojo said that no fewer than 700 teachers, who retired from July 2011 would collect their pension arrears up to date.

He said that some former workers of the board alleged to have stolen N5.4 billion meant for the payment of gratuity and pension of retired teachers had been handed over to the police for prosecution.

The chairman said that the board was able to start the payment of the pension arrears because the State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, made good his promise to pay the pensioners in spite of the alleged fraud.

Mr. Ayankojo said that the board would pay cash to the beneficiaries to ascertain the number of genuine pensioners but that from February, the payment would be made electronically.

The chairman thanked the governor for approving the payment, saying the money would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the beneficiaries. NAN