Enugu State Government to Pay N32 Billion in Gratuities

The Enugu State Government has approved the payment of approximately N32 billion in outstanding legacy gratuities owed to pensioners, with the first tranche of N10 billion set to be released next week. This announcement was made by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, during a briefing at the Government House in Enugu following a State Executive Council meeting.

Onyia, accompanied by other commissioners, stated that this payment is part of Governor Peter Mbah's administration's commitment to clear inherited gratuity liabilities before the end of his first tenure. He explained that the outstanding gratuities were liabilities inherited by the current administration and that provisions for their settlement were included in the 2026 budget, which has been approved by the Enugu State House of Assembly.

The SSG emphasized that this decision was part of a planned process to address the state's obligations to retired workers, noting that a verification committee was established to review records dating back to 2000 to determine actual liabilities.