•Pensioners
Teachers and local government workers in Edo State who retired in 2012 received their gratuity today, paid from the N1billion recently released by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Many of the beneficiaries, now feeble, wept as they collected their cheques, reports The Nation.
Some pensioners who retired between 2009 and 2011 were included in the payment, while others who are currently critically ill but retired from 2013 were paid on compassionate grounds.
Hon Kabiru Adjoto, Chairman of the Local Government Staff Pension Bureau, who presented the cheques, said Governor Monday Okpebholo promised to release another N1billion for the payment of 2013 retirees.
Hon Adjoto said Governor Okpebholo is serious about paying gratuities.
He explained that payments made to retirees from 2009 to 2011 were intended to clear all previous backlogs.
According to Adjoto, “Okpebholo said it was unfortunate that gratuity was allowed to be accumulated. He said another N1billion will be released once we commence this payment. That means it will be a continuous exercise. We discovered that there were some persons who retired from 2009 to 2011 who have not been paid. We brought the backlog and cleared all of it. Before Friday this week, Governor Okpebholo said he will release another N1billion.
“The governor wants Edo to be a model for Nigeria. Okpebholo is serious about gratuity. He is not happy about the accumulation. You will get your money.
“We have a government that is willing and determined to pay. It is going to be a continuous exercise. I appeal to you to be patient.”
Adjoto cautioned the pensioners against paying money to collect their cheques.
“It is criminal to pay to collect your cheque. Don’t give anybody money to influence your payment. There is no 10 percent to pay. Anybody who demands one percent from you, report him to the pension bureau.”
Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Samuel Okhuelegbe, thanked the governor for the payment and called for more support from the state government.
