Edo Governor Okpebholo Releases N1bn for Pensioners' Gratuities

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the release of N1 billion to facilitate the payment of gratuity arrears owed to retired local government and primary school workers from the 2012 batch. This announcement was made by Kabiru Adjoto, the Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Service Commission, during a meeting with representatives from various pensioners' unions, including the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and the National Union of Local Government Employees.

Adjoto stated that the current administration's strategy of paying gratuities in installments could have cleared the backlog if adopted by the previous administration. He emphasized that this initiative reflects the government's commitment to the welfare of retirees.

The funds will allow the Pension Bureau to continue payments to the remaining beneficiaries of the 2012 batch and beyond. Union representatives, Claudette Ehannire and Jude Ahabue, expressed gratitude for the governor's intervention but urged for increased future releases to expedite the clearance of outstanding gratuity arrears.