By Destiny Obinna
Pensioners in Enugu State have expressed excitement following the commencement of payments of outstanding gratuities owed to retired workers since 2000 by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah.
The pensioners described the development as a significant breakthrough after waiting for more than two decades to receive their entitlements.
Confirming the development, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Ikechukwu Ekere, praised the governor for addressing what he described as years of neglect of retired workers.
Ekere said the commencement of gratuity payments had brought renewed hope to pensioners and their families, urging the state government to maintain the momentum until all outstanding payments were settled.
Similarly, the Caretaker Chairman of the NUP, Local Government Staff Pensions Board Branch, Comrade Kenneth Emeka Ugwueze, commended the Mbah administration for introducing reforms that had improved pension administration for local government retirees and former primary school teachers.
Ugwueze recalled that before the reforms, some retired local government workers and teachers waited for as long as two years after retirement before receiving their monthly pensions.
He attributed the improvement to the completion of the pension verification exercise in July 2024, noting that retirees in the local government system now receive their monthly pensions as and when due.
“We are happy with the new dimensions introduced by Governor Peter Mbah in pension administration in the local government system.
“Before now, local government workers and primary school teachers could wait for two years after retirement before receiving their pensions. But since the conclusion of the verification exercise in July 2024, no pensioner in the local government system has been denied monthly pension. We have been receiving our pensions as and when due.
“Now that our people have started receiving alerts for their gratuities, it is a thing of joy,” Ugwueze said.
The pension leaders also praised local government council chairmen for beginning contributions of 10 per cent of their monthly allocations towards settling outstanding gratuities owed to retired council workers.
They described the contributions as a major step towards addressing the accumulated pension liabilities and improving the welfare of former local government employees.
Some retirees who confirmed receiving payment alerts also welcomed the development, expressing appreciation to the state government for fulfilling its obligations after years of waiting.
They said the commencement of payments had restored their confidence and brought relief to beneficiaries who had long awaited their entitlements.
The pension leaders, however, urged the state government to sustain the exercise and ensure that all eligible retirees receive their outstanding gratuities.
