By Nkechinyere Ewa Ogenyi
The Ebonyi State government has commenced the long awaited process for the payment of gratuities to retired local government staff dating far back as 1996.
To facilitate the exercise, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has inaugurated a six-member verification and payment committee, headed by Mrs. Catherine Ogbu, with a mandate to verify and pay genuine local government retirees promptly.
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Monday Uzor, other members of the committee include Mrs. Mbam Joy, Dr. Cajethan Oketa, Hon. Justice Iheanachor Chima, and Comrade David Elom, who represents the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT). Mr. Martins Uguru is to serve as the Secretary.
Inaugurating the committee, Governor Nwifuru emphasised the importance of the exercise and charged members to discharge their duties with the highest level of integrity and transparency.
“I have confidence in the calibre of persons selected to do this assignment. I want everyone who had the opportunity to serve this state at the local government level to get their full entitlements,” the governor stated.
He stressed that the initiative was not being undertaken because the state had surplus funds but because of his administration’s commitment to social justice and welfare.
“Just like I told the local government chairmen, this payment is as important as physical projects,” he added.
Governor Nwifuru gave a firm directive that each retiree should be paid on the same day they are verified, urging the committee to use all available documents to guide the process.
“Ensure every retiree receives an alert immediately he or she is verified,” the governor instructed.
He commended the local government council chairmen for their cooperation and for recognising the importance of the gratuity payment exercise.
The move by the governor has been widely applauded by stakeholders in the state, with many describing it as a historic step towards addressing the plight of retired local government workers who have waited for years to receive their entitlements.