The Ebonyi State Government has approved N1 billion for the part payment of gratuities owed to retired civil servants since the inception of the state. The State Executive Council took the decision during its meeting in Abakaliki.
According to Chief Uchenna Orji, the State Commissioner for Information, the total outstanding gratuities stood at N4.2 billion, and the council also approved over N485 million for the payment of arrears of pension to retired civil servants during previous administrations and the present one.
The commissioner further disclosed that the state government approved N500 million for the payment of gratuities to local government retirees, stressing that there were no backlogs at that level. He also announced the approval of N300 million as subvention to Ebonyi State University, and the release of N200 million to David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital and David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, both in Uburu.
In addition to the above, the State Government has approved the payment of N15,000 as an exit package to each of the state civil servants and N10,000 to Local Government Employees. This move is expected to bring some relief to retired civil servants and employees of the local government, who have been waiting for their gratuities and arrears of pensions.
