Some of the retirees awaiting payment of their gratuity.
‘The payment of the gratuity is like raising the dead bones’
By Nweze Anaga,
Abakaliki
Civil servants, who retired in Ebonyi State from 1996 to 2021, have commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for the ongoing payment of their gratuity.
During a visit to the old Government House EXCO Chamber where the exercise is taking place, Nigeria News Flight saw many retired civil servants seated orderly, while being attended to by the committee set up for the payment of the gratuity.
One of the retirees, Mrs. Odah Chinwendu Ede, who spoke to Nigeria News Flight, applauded Governor Francis Nwifuru for the kind gesture displayed to ensure that all retired civil servants in the state received their gratuity without any problem.
She said that the payment had resurrected them back to life.
Her words: “First and foremost, those that are attending to us are very friendly. They are not harsh on us. They will attend to you immediately when you come; it moves from one stage to another and it doesn’t take much time.
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“Each stage doesn’t take more than five minutes. They gave us snacks and water to cool off; and we are very happy.
The payment of the gratuity is like raising the dead bones. All our aged parents have come back to life. We are grateful to Governor Francis Nwifuru.”
Another retiree, Mrs. Ugo Mkpuma, expressed gratitude to God, who m she said, remembered the senior citizens through Governor Francis Nwifuru.
She prayed God to reward and bless the governor and his family over the payment of gratuity.
Also, the secretary of the committee, Prof. Mathew E. Nwocha, said that the process was ongoing, stressing, “By next week, they will round off because it is almost one month into the exercise and has been hitch-free and the retirees are happy.”
He pointed out that the system was getting better as the retirees were receiving alerts promptly as they were cleared from the central payroll system, adding that over 80% of the money had been paid to the retirees.
The Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Adeline Idike, said that the exercise was moving smoothly without any problem, stressing, “We are paying those who were listed and verified.”
Idike further disclosed that the committee started on September 26, 2023.
According to her, “The total number in the lists of verified retirees is 1,715; but as at October 19, 2023, we verified 1,322 and paid out N3.22 billion.”
She also disclosed that a special day had been set aside for the families of diseased retirees and next of kin.
Recall that Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru recently set up a committee to ensure the prompt payment of gratuity to all retired civil servants from 1996 to 2021.
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