Edo pays gratuities to teachers, LG retirees

Teachers and local government workers in Edo State who retired in 2012, on Monday, received their gratuity paid from the N1 billion recently released by Governor Monday Okpebholo. Many of the beneficiaries who are now old and weak wept as they collected their cheques. Some pensioners, who retired between 2009 and 2011, were captured in the payment, while others who are 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 Okpebholo has promised to release another N1bn for payment of 2013 retirees. Adjoto said Okpebholo was serious about the payment of gratuities. He explained that payments made to retirees from 2009 to 2011 were to ensure all previous backlogs were cleared. He said, “What we are paying is gratuity to pensioners and teachers who retired way back. Governor Okpebholo said it was unfortunate that gratuity was allowed to accumulate this much. The governor promised that another N1 billion will be released once we commence this payment. “This means that it will be a continuous exercise. We discovered that there were some people who retired from 2009 to 2011 who had not been paid. We brought the backlog and cleared all of it. 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. I appeal to you to be patient.” Adjoto cautioned the pensioners against paying officials for them to collect their cheques. He added, “It is criminal to pay to collect your cheque. Don’t give anybody money to influence your payment. There is no 10 per cent to pay. Anybody who demands a per cent from you, report him to the pension bureau.” Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Samuel Okhuelegbe, thanked the governor for the payment and called for more support from the state government.