Ebonyi State Government has commenced payment of gratuity to over 4,000 retired local government workers across the 13 Local Government Areas in the state.
Executive Secretary of Local Government Staff Pension Board in the state, Emeka Nwonu who addressed the retirees during the payment flag-off, said Governor Francis Nwifuru approved the sum of over N10bn for the payment which span from 1996 to 2025.
According to him, retired local government staff and UBEB teachers have been profiled for the payments.
"Gentlemen of the Press, I'm pleased to inform you that our dear Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Builder Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru (Onwa Ndi Ebonyi), has again braved the odds, following the approval of immediate payment of pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants of the local government system, UBEB teachers and deceased retirees.
You may ecall that during my inauguration as the Executive Secretary of Ebonyi State Local Government Staff Pension Board on 18th January, 2025, His Excellency charged me in line with his administration's policy thrust anchored on "The People's Charter Of Needs Mantra", to go to the Board and do a total transformation of the area as a critical and significant agency of government that takes care of our senior citizens who have meritoriously served our dear state at the local government level and UBEB.
"His Excellency frowned at the decadent situation of the Board and the conditions of the retirees who were not paid their retirement benefits many years after retirement and reiterated the readiness and willingness of his people-oriented administration to pay them, and directed me to verify the extant pensions and gratuities as owed to them, engage professionals in auditing, to do thorough auditing of the Board, all in a view to profiling and processing the pensioners for immediate payments of their benefits.
"These retirees who have waited far too long without hope, now have their hopes not only renewed but blossomed into reality as His Excellency, Governor Nwifuru has approved over ₦10 billion for payment of their pensions, gratuities and death benefits, covering retirees from 1996 till date. His Excellency through this singular gesture, has further demonstrated the priority his administration attaches to the people's welfare.
"In this exercise kicking off today, about 4000 retirees of retired Local government staff and UBEB teachers have been profiled for payment of their retirement benefits, comprising pensions, gratuities and death benefits from 1996 to date.
"Recall also that His Excellency had cleared backlog of arrears of pensions and gratuities owed to State retirees since 1996, amounting to billions of naira in 2024. Suffice it to say that the dignity of labour, which many leaders pay lip service to, has found a true custodian in Governor Nwifuru.
"The Governor is truly committed to uplifting the living conditions of civil servants, while in service and after retirement. Just recently, the governor, in an uncommon display of magnanimity, raised the minimum wage of workers in Ebonyi State to #90,000, which is above the new national minimum wage, without minding that Ebonyi receives the least allocation from the federation account. Like a candle that lights others without losing its glow, the Governor has indeed shown that when there is a will, there will always be a way.
"These compassionate steps being taken by His Excellency to address the plights of the people completely align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and has no doubt translated it from a national vision into a local reality. He has proven that leadership is not about excuses but about results, not about rhetoric but about records.
"Furthermore, the governor’s human-faced approach to governance has not been limited to welfare packages alone. His tireless efforts to enthrone peace and tranquility across Ebonyi State affirm the timeless wisdom of the Holy Book: “When the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.”
"Today, Ebonyians are singing songs of a new dawn and are full of estacy, because they see in Governor Nwifuru a leader whose works speak louder than words. His achievements have campaigned for him, making his victory in 2027 not only certain but non-negotiable. Truly, the reward for good work is more work, and Ebonyi people, in appreciation, will surely give him the mandate to do more".
He commended the sacrifice made by Local Government chairmen in the state towards the payment of the retirees.
"Let me single out for recognition the roles of the Local Government Chairmen in Ebonyi State led the State ALGON Chairman and Executive Chairman, Ebonyi Local Government Area, Barr. Prince Chinedu Uburu. They made uncommon sacrifices for the success of today's event. I commend the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ebonyi State, Chief Uchenna Igwe for his supervision, encouragement and pieces of advice. I adore the Staff and Management of Ebonyi State Local Government Staff Pension Board for their diligence, commitment and dedication".
Nwonu praised the tireless efforts of the screening committee chaired the Mrs Catherine Ogbu.
"The Committee, Chaired by Her Excellency, Chief Mrs. Catherine Ogbu did a thorough and transparent job in ensuring the success of today. May God bless everyone of them".
Flagging off the payment which took place at Executive council chambers, Old Government House, Abakaliki, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe, said the payment of gratuity to the retired workers, will alleviate their suffering.
He assured the retirees that all of them will receive his or her entitlement and imploded them to conduct themselves maturely and receive the payments.
One of the retirees, Ama Emea Orji, thanked Governor Francis Nwifuru for celebrating the retirees alive by paying them gratuities.
“I want to say, our years of labour are not in vain. We are alive to see this gracious day, it is a thing of joy and we are very grateful to His Excellency the Governor.
“We wish the Governor strength, we wish him good health as he continues to pilot the affairs of our state from strength to strength and we are praying for another tenure for him”, he said.
Others who spoke the event include the Commisson for information and state orientation, Barr Ikeuwa Omebe, ALGON Chairman and Executive Chairman, Ebonyi Local Government, Barr. Chinedu Ubiru,Head of Service, Dr Rita-Mary Okoro and chairman of the screening committee, Mrs Catherine Ogbu among others, lauded the governor for the retirees who served at the local level of the state and enjoined them to make judicious use of the money to improve their livelihood.
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