Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has fulfilled his promise to clear the backlog of gratuities owed to Ebonyi workers from 1996 to 2023.
According to a statement by Engr. Jude Chikadibia Okpor, the Honourable Commissioner for Information & State Orientation, the last batch of retirees, scheduled for payment of gratuities by the Governor Nwifuru-led administration, have received their payments.
The statement revealed, “As of Thursday, 9th May 2024, the last batch (phase 11), which comprises of spill-over retirees from 1996 to 2021, were cleared and paid. A total of two hundred and fifty-six retirees received their full payments, amounting to a total of #394,907,784.91.
“Additionally, retirees from the years 2022 to 2023 were also cleared and paid during the 7-day exercise. A total of two hundred and seventy-seven retirees were cleared and paid, with a total gratuity amount of #1,030,972,870.05.
“It is worth noting that the Ebonyi State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, GGCEHF, has successfully cleared all arrears of gratuity owed to retirees from the creation of the state to 2023. A total gratuity sum of #5,036,211,140.6 has been paid to two thousand and ninety-nine retirees.
“A further breakdown of the total sum and beneficiaries revealed that in the first phase of the exercise, a total of three billion, six hundred and thirty thousand, four hundred and eighty-five naira, sixty-four kobo (#3,610,330,485.64) was paid to one thousand, five hundred and sixty-six retirees who patiently awaited their entitlements between 1996 and 2021.
“While in the second phase, a total number of five hundred and thirty-three retirees were cleared and paid a total gratuity amount of one billion, four hundred and twenty-five million, eight hundred and eighty thousand, six hundred and fifty-four naira, ninety-six kobo (#1,425,880,654.96).
“This accomplishment underscores the commitment of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, GGCEHF, as the most humane and worker-friendly Governor of Ebonyi State, who not only makes promises but also fulfills them.”
It would be recalled that Governor Nwifuru had previously assured Ebonyi workers that the processing of gratuity for potential retirees would promptly commence once they proceed on pre-retirement leave.
“We, therefore, call on Ebonyians to continue to reciprocate His Excellency’s good gestures through prayers and loyalty to his administration as his government prepares for further improvements in favor of the people of Ebonyi,” the statement concluded.
