It was a huge and welcome relief for pensioners in Edo State who retired in 2012, as they were on Monday paid their gratuities from the one billion Naira fund recently released by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the teachers and local government retirees, many of whom were visibly feeble, shed tears of joy as they collected their cheques.
Some pensioners, who retired between 2009 and 2011, were also captured in the payment while others who were currently critically ill but retired from 2013, were paid on compassionate grounds.
Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Bureau, Kabiru Adjoto, who presented the cheques, said Governor Okpebholo had promised to release another N1bn for payment of 2013 retirees.
Emphasising that the governor was serious about payment of gratuities, the governor explained that payment made to retirees from 2009 to 2011 was to ensure all backlogs were cleared.
According to Adjoto, “Okpebholo said it was unfortunate that gratuity was allowed to be accumulated. He said another N1bn will be released once we commenced this payment. That means it will be a continuous exercise. We discovered that there were some persons who retired from 2009 to 2011 that have not been paid. We brought the backlog and cleared all of them. Before Friday this week, Governor Okpebholo said he will release another N1bn.
“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 bribing anyone to facilitate the collection of their cheques.
According to the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, “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 that 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.