One thousand five hundred pensioners have received their gratuities in Ebonyi State, this is out of one thousand,seven hundred and fifteen who retired between 1996 and 2021.
The Chief Press secretary to the Governor, Dr Monday Uzor also revealed that outstanding beneficiaries of about 200 will receive their full payments witnin the next two days.
All other pensioners who retired between 2022 to 2023 would get their full gratuity latest by December 2023.
These and many more came to fore when Governor Francis Nwifuru, visited Exco Chambers of the old Government House, venue of the verification and payment of the gratuity to ascertain progress of the exercise on Monday.
Addressing the retirees , Governor Nwifuru said his administration decided to embark on the payment of the gratuities to give the retirees a new lease of life after meritorious service to the State.
Governor Nwifuru also commended members of the Verification Committee for so far discharging their duties creditably.”
He assured that his administration would not rest on its oars until all who are worthy of gratuity receive the fruit of their labour.
“I have been listening to so many radio programmes and announcements and I also listened to one of the retirees clearly and he said that his happiness is not just because he received his gratuity but the way and manner he was managed when he came to the Committee for verification showed to him very much that our Government has human face.
“We didn’t embark on this journey because of the volume of resources available to us as Government but because it is a necessity.
“If you pay somebody who worked for you for 30 good years, or 35 or 60 as the case may be his wages without paying the person his retirement benefits, I don’t think the person will be going home happy.
“It is a great task because it is capital intensive and we embarked on it to the benefits of mankind but my happiness is that those involved , the retirees are feeling the impact of our Government.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Gratuity Committee, Professor Adeline Idike while thanking the Governor for the opportunity to serve the State in that capacity, assured of the dedication of the Committee to the task until all due retirees receive their full gratuity.
