Abia State Government has begun full payment of gratuity to verified pensioners in the state civil service and local government councils, who retired between 2001 and 2010.
Information Commissioner Prince Okey Kanu told our correspondent on the sidelines of the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti that the Council carefully considered the report of the committee constituted to review and develop a sustainable framework for the payment of outstanding gratuity owed to retirees at the state and local government levels.
He said the review established the total outstanding gratuity liability at N61.8 billion, comprising N7.2 billion accumulated between 2001 and 2010, N43.6 billion incurred between 2011 and May 2023, and N10.9 billion accumulated from May 2023 to date.
The commissioner said the review also showed that payments made by successive administrations, particularly the administrations of former Governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu, covered less than 0.01 per cent of the gratuity owed to retirees who exited the service between 2011 and May 2023.
He said given the magnitude of the liability, the committee considered the prolonged hardship faced by retirees, the responsibility of government as a continuum, the state’s financial capacity and the need to sustain ongoing development programmes.
‘The government is committed to addressing this challenge in a responsible and sustainable manner.
‘We cannot realistically clear the mess of 24 years within three years, namely the misrule and maladministration that brought us as a state to this sorry past.
‘But, we are determined to establish a system that guarantees continuous payment and prevents the accumulation of fresh areas,’ Kanu said.
He added that the committee recommended the incorporation of the annual financial implications of the gratuity payments from 2026 to 2031 into the state’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets.
The commissioner said the arrangement would ensure sustained payment of gratuity while preventing the recurrence of the huge backlog inherited by the present administration.
He further disclosed that payments would be made directly to verified beneficiaries through a dedicated gratuity payment platform linked to the State Treasury Single Account, with biometric validation to prevent duplication, fraud and other irregularities.
Kanu said the retirees’ database would also undergo further cleaning and validation, noting that some records relating to years of service and previous payments were still in analogue form.
He stressed that subsequent payments would prioritise the oldest arrears and beneficiaries considered to be experiencing the greatest social impact, assuring retirees that the government remained committed to protecting their interests.
‘This administration recognises the sacrifices made by our retirees and understands the difficulties the prolonged non-payment of gratuity has caused.
‘We will continue to do everything within our means to ensure verified beneficiaries receive what is due to them,’ Kanu said.
The commissioner disclosed that beneficiaries had already started receiving their gratuity payments across the state, describing the commencement of payments as part of the administration’s broader commitment to responsible governance and workers’ welfare.
To address complaints and challenges that may arise from the payment process, the government has established a dedicated helpline through the Abia State Citizens Contact Centre.
The helpline 0800-0000232, the commissioner said, would be available from 8am to 4pm on working days, while complaints can also be submitted through an email address – [email protected], which will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu, confirming that the gratuity being paid currently covered 2001 to 2010, said the state government intended to defray the gratuity in phases as the amount involved was a huge sum that couldn’t have been paid once.