Enugu LG Councils to Begin Payment of 25-Year Gratuity Arrears…Dedicate 10% of monthly allocations to gratuity payments from October
The Enugu State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has announced plans to begin paying outstanding gratuities owed to retired local government workers, with arrears dating back to 2000.
The Deputy Chairman of Enugu State ALGON, Hon. Ferdinand Ukwueze, disclosed this to Government House correspondents at the end of the 40th meeting of the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission, chaired by Governor Peter Mbah.
Ukwueze, who is also the Chairman of Igboeze South Local Government Area, said the councils would dedicate 10 per cent of their monthly allocations to settling the arrears, beginning in October and continuing until all outstanding obligations are cleared.
The announcement comes a week after the Enugu State Executive Council approved over ₦32 billion for the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired state government workers, with arrears also dating back to 2000.
Describing the decision as a historic step, Ukwueze said the local governments’ initiative aligned with the Mbah administration’s commitment to ensuring that retirees who served at both state and local government levels receive their entitlements.
“One of the high points of today’s meeting is that, in a very historic manner, the local government system in Enugu State has taken the bold step of aligning with the state’s policy, particularly with respect to alleviating the hardship of the masses.
“In line with the payment of the legacy gratuity that the state government embarked on a couple of days ago, the local governments have also decided at the Economic Planning Commission meeting to step into that arrangement to make sure that we clear all the gratuity inherited by us,” he said.
Ukwueze said the deductions from the councils’ monthly allocations would commence in October and continue until the outstanding gratuities were fully paid.
“Beginning from this month, we are going to key into what the state government has started implementing already by making sure that we offset those debts.
“The decision is that starting from this month, 10 per cent of our monthly allocation will be dedicated to that responsibility until it is cleared. So, once we start it, there is no going back. Every worker who worked in our local governments will have access to this entitlement,” Ukwueze stated.
He clarified that the outstanding gratuities covered more than 25 years, dating back to 2000, and reaffirmed the councils’ determination to clear the arrears.
“For clarity, the arrears are from the year 2000, but, as I said, we are going to clear all the over 25-year legacy gratuities,” he reiterated.
Ukwueze said the initiative was designed to improve the welfare of retirees who had devoted their productive years to public service.
“The essence of it, once again, is to put smiles on the faces of the masses, especially those of them who spent their youthfulness serving the public in our various local government areas,” he said.
He also pledged the continued support of local governments for the Mbah administration and their commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to sustain peace and security across the state.
“Enugu State is safe. Enugu State is peaceful. And we will continue to partner with our governor and security agencies to keep it so,” he added.
