Gov Otu approves N10billion for payment of gratuities

Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has approved the sum of NGN 10 billion to pay part of the backlog of gratuities owed to retired civil and public servants in the state, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Nsa Gill, on Friday.

“The Governor has equally approved the constitution of a Committee of the Executives of State and Local Government Pension Unions under the headship of the Secretary to the State Government, SSG” the statement read.

The committee is expected to meet with the SSG, Professor Anthony Owan Enoh on Monday, with “a view to working out modalities for the payment of gratuities to retired Civil and Public Officers in Cross River State.”

Thousands of civil and public servants are owed their gratuities as far back as 2012 even though Mr. Nsa’s statement said it is only from 2014.

The State also said the delay in payment of gratuities by the current administration was due to an audit which has uncovered over 2,000 ghost pensioners who have been “expunged from both the State and Local Government Pensions Payrolls.”

“With the near completion of the exercise to authenticate genuine pensioners, payment of gratuities will commence in August, 2024.

“The Committee led by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) has one week from the date of their 1st meeting to submit its report to Government,” the statement added.