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| Monday Okpebholo |
The Edo State Government has approved the release of ₦1 billion to continue the payment of gratuities owed to retired local government workers and primary school teachers whose benefits have remained unpaid since 2012.
The fresh approval, granted by Governor Monday Okpebholo, is aimed at reducing the backlog of gratuity arrears and providing financial relief to retirees who have waited years to receive their entitlements after leaving public service.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the Edo State Local Government Staff Pension Bureau, Kabiru Adjoto, during a meeting with representatives of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, the Local Government Pensioners Association, the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), and officials of the Local Government Pension Bureau.
Adjoto explained that the newly approved funds will be used to continue the payment exercise for retirees from the 2012 cohort, following an earlier round of disbursements made by the state government. He noted that the phased payment approach adopted by the current administration is helping to gradually reduce the long-standing gratuity backlog.
According to him, Governor Okpebholo remains committed to improving the welfare of retired workers and ensuring that those who served the state receive their benefits. He added that the government will continue releasing funds until all verified gratuity arrears are settled.
The pension bureau chairman also observed that consistent funding would have significantly reduced the backlog if previous administrations had maintained a similar payment strategy over the years.
Representatives of pensioners and labour unions welcomed the latest intervention, describing it as a major relief for retirees who have faced financial hardship while waiting for their gratuities.
Speaking on behalf of the pensioners, officials of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners and NULGE commended the governor for sustaining the payment programme. They, however, appealed for larger releases in future to speed up the settlement of outstanding gratuities and ensure more retirees receive their entitlements without further delays.
The latest ₦1 billion allocation follows an earlier release made this year as part of the Edo State Government's ongoing effort to clear accumulated gratuity obligations. The administration has repeatedly assured retirees that payments will continue in phases until all eligible beneficiaries have been paid.
The renewed funding is expected to bring relief to hundreds of retired local government employees and primary school teachers across the state, many of whom have waited for years to access their gratuities. Labour leaders expressed optimism that the government's sustained commitment would restore confidence in the state's pension administration and improve the welfare of retired public servants.