Ekiti begins monthly defrayment of outstanding N12b gratuities

The Ekiti State Government has commenced the payment of gratuity to its retirees as the State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Monday distributed cheques totaling N100 million to some retirees in the State.

Distributing the cheques in Ado Ekiti, Fayemi said he was aware that the monthly release of N100 million to defray the N12 billion debt would only cater for a sizeable number of the retirees on a monthly basis, adding that his administration is considering various options to liquidate the huge debt “in no distant time”.

The Governor, who acknowledged the contributions of the retirees to the development of the State, promised to alleviate the sufferings of the senior citizens by making regular payment of their benefits a top priority.

He said: “I feel your pulse, I know your plights and I am ready to alleviate your sufferings by making regular payment of your benefits a top priority.

“It is a fact that you have toiled for the development of the State.

“So you should not be subjected to hardship in any form.

“I assure you that within the available resources, your entitlements will be paid as and when due.”

Fayemi said the monthly release of N100 million is a demonstration of his commitment to ensuring that those who had used their productive years to serve the State have maximum enjoyment in their post-retirement years.

He however expressed regret that some of the retirees had died while waiting for their entitlements.

Earlier, the outgoing Executive Secretary in the Pension Transition Arrangement Department, Akinjide Akinleye, had put the indebtedness on gratuities in the State Civil Service at N12,730,172,947.35.

Akinleye stated that the last administration was committing N10 million monthly to the payment of exit benefits, a gesture which would have seen the government clear the backlog in 100 years.

Akinleye disclosed that 88 pensioners would benefit from the monthly release of N100 million.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Elder Ayo Kumapayi, thanked the governor for increasing the monthly gratuity from N10 million to N100 million, saying the gesture has renewed hope of receiving the exit benefits among the pensioners.

Kumapayi, who described Fayemi as a promise keeper, said the Governor had shown what good governance is.

He stated that the governor had ensured that pensioners get their monthly pension at the same time that active workers receive alerts of their salaries.

He said: “We pensioners have been suffering before but you gave us hope.

“When you were campaigning, you made some promises to us and today you have shown that you are a promise keeper.

“When we approached you that we wanted to be paid pension at the same time the active workers are paid and the subsequent month, it happened.

“During the last administration, nobody knew when pension would be paid but now, my people can relax and expect their pension at month end. Indeed, you are pensioners friend.”