The Edo State Government has made the sum of N1 billion available to clear the payment of gratuities to retired teachers and local government workers in the state who retired from the state since 2012.
According to Alhaji Adjoto Kabiru, the Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Bureau in the state, the payment is the first tranche of the gratuity payment for the retired teachers and local government workers.
Alhaji Adjoto, who spoke at a press briefing in Benin City, commended Governor Okpebholo, for his commitment to the welfare of workers and retirees.
Adjoto noted that Governor Okpebholo has continued to demonstrate strong political will to confronting long-standing challenges affecting pensioners and retirees in the State.
He thanked the retirees for their patience, understanding, and continued faith in Government despite the delays experienced over the years.
According to him, “It is pertinent to note that the payment of gratuities being addressed will capture retirees from 2012 and other outstanding sets. This responsibility comes with a significant financial burden on Government due to the significant increase in the number of retirees and the consequential financial burden arising from successive minimum wage increases.
“Despite these challenges, the present administration has remained resolute in its determination to ensure that those who served the State meritoriously are not forgotten and that their legitimate entitlements are progressively settled.
“Let me therefore assure our retirees and the general public that with the renewed commitment of the present administration under the SHINE Agenda, the process of gratuity payment will henceforth be more regular and systematic than what was previously obtainable. Administrative work is currently ongoing and deserving beneficiaries will be invited to collect their cheques in the coming days.”
Chairman of Local Government Retirees, Comrade Mike Olekiale, urged the Governor to continue the payment to lift up the suffering pensioners.
Spokesman for Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Pastor Claudiette Ehanire, said the local government retirees deserve to have a bureau that would be in charge of their welfare.
“We are happy but not too fully happy because we have been abandoned for too long. The Governor has out smiles on our faces. We want a Bureau in charge of local government pensioners. We want to the Governor to put somebody in charge.”
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