In a move that has been hailed as a relief for thousands of retired local government workers in Edo State, Nigeria, Governor Godwin Obaseki has approved the payment of a 28-year backlog of gratuity. The governor said the gesture was part of his administration’s commitment to the welfare of pensioners and workers in the state.
According to a statement by the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Osas-Ehigie Sandra, a screening exercise will be held for the pensioners who retired between 1979 and 2008. The exercise will take place at the Local Government Staff Pensions Board premises, King Square, Benin City, from October 16 to 20, 2023.
The statement urged all confirmed pensioners to physically present themselves at the venue with their pension identity card, biometrics slip and pay advice. It also assured them that the payment process would be transparent and efficient.
The approval of the gratuity payment comes after months of protests and appeals by the pensioners, who had been living in hardship and neglect for decades. Some of them had died without receiving their entitlements, while others had resorted to begging and borrowing to survive.
The governor’s action has been commended by various stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). They described it as a historic and unprecedented gesture that would restore dignity and hope to the senior citizens.
The Edo State government has also been praised for its efforts to reform the pension system and ensure regular payment of monthly pensions to its workers. The state has adopted a contributory pension scheme that guarantees prompt remittance of pension funds and eliminates fraud and corruption.
The governor has also promised to address other issues affecting the local government workers, such as promotion, salary increment, and training. He said his administration would continue to prioritize human capital development and improve the quality of life of the people.
[Source] The Guardian
