Gov. Otu Approves N10B for payment of Gratuity to Retirees in Cross River
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has approved Ten Billion Naira for the longstanding issue of unpaid gratuities for retirees in the state.
In a press released from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Nsa Gill, made available to Journalists on Friday revealed that the Governor has given the green light for the disbursement of Ten Billion Naira, (N10B) as gratuities to retired Civil and Public Officers.
The move is part of the government’s commitment to clearing the backlog of outstanding gratuities and providing much-needed financial relief to pensioners who have served the state diligently over the years.
In a bid to ensure transparency and efficiency in the payment process, the Governor has sanctioned the establishment of a Committee comprising Executives from State and Local Government Pension Unions, with the Secretary to the State Government at the helm.
Scheduled to convene on Monday, July 29, 2024, the Committee will collaborate with the Secretary to the State Government to finalize the modalities for the gratuity payment exercise.
This initiative comes after a thorough audit and verification procedure, which uncovered over 2,000 ghost pensioners on both the State and Local Government Pension Payrolls.
These individuals have been duly removed, paving the way for genuine retirees to receive their entitlements.
The statement reads, “The Committee is expected to meet with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) on Monday, July 29, 2024, to work out the modalities for the payment of gratuities to retired Civil and Public Officers in Cross River State”
“It should be recalled that the current administration inherited a backlog of unpaid gratuities for retirees dating back to 2014. The promise to commence payments last year has been delayed due to necessary audit and verification procedures. So far, the audit and verification exercise has uncovered over 2,000 ghost pensioners, who have consequently been removed from both the State and Local Government Pension Payrolls”
“With the near completion of the exercise to authenticate genuine pensioners, the payment of gratuities is set to commence in August 2024″
“The Committee, led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), will have one week from the date of their first meeting to submit its report to the Government.”
