EBONYI GOVERNMENT RELEASES ₦10 BILLION FOR LG RETIREES’ GRATUITIES
By: Safiya Abdulrahim Dabban
The Ebonyi State Government has approved ₦10 billion for the payment of gratuities to retired local government workers and Universal Basic Education teachers.
Governor Francis Nwifuru, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Uchenna Igwe, announced the commencement of payments at the Government House, Abakaliki. The payment covers retirees from 1996, when the state was created, up to 2025.
About 4,000 retirees have been screened and cleared by a committee set up to oversee the process. The Governor said the move fulfills his campaign promise to end years of neglect of LG retirees.
The Executive Secretary of the Local Government Pension Board, Mr. Emeka Nwonu, described the payment as a “dream come true,” noting that it includes pensions and death benefits. The exercise is expected to conclude by October 28, starting with Onicha LGA.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief Donatus Ekwemini, praised the Governor for prioritizing retirees’ welfare, saying Ebonyi has set a record in the South-East and South-South. Some beneficiaries expressed joy, saying they never expected to receive their entitlements in their lifetime.
Mrs. Catherine Ogbu, head of the Gratuity Screening Committee, assured that every qualified retiree will be duly paid.