Workers Day celebration: Gov. Nwifuru plans payment of gratuity last day in office for retirees
From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakiliki
The governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru on Thursday assured that his administration is working assiduously to put in place a system which would guarantee prompt payment of gratuity to civil servants same day of retirement.
He added that arrangement has reached advanced stage.
Governor Nwifuru dropped this hint on Thursday during 2025 Workers’ Day celebration, held at Pa Ngele Oruta Township stadium, Abakiliki the state capital.
He explained that his administration has cleared pensions and gratuities owed to workers in the state.
His words: “These efforts are not just promises—they are responsibilities that we are actively executing.
“Currently, we are not owing pensions and gratituities. We are putting in place, a system that clears your gratituity less than one hour after exiting our service as a retiree.
“This, you can agree with me ,will reduce the risks of running around to process your retirement and its bottlenecks.
“I am glad to inform you we have reached advanced stage in this regard,”he assured.
The governor further reaffirmed his commitment towards the pursuance of merit-base advancement and continuous training of workers so as to achieve results oriented delivery of services.
Earlier, the Head of Service, Mrs. Ritamary Okoro who commended governor Nwifuru for his outstanding welfare packages to workers, identified absence of conveniences, equipment and training as key factors facing the civil servants in their various places of works.
She stressed that civil servants to achieve their set targets inline with the state government “People’s Charter of Needs” need a conducive environment to strive.
Her words: “your Excellency we must recommend you for your numerous contributions towards addressing the welfare of Ebonyi civil servants since you assumed office.
“Some of these include, the approval of 75,000 naira as minimum wage, regular payment of monthly salaries, pension and gratuity,.
“Also are the employment of workers in the health sector and the provision of buses to easy transportation of workers to their work places among other.
“However, there are still few challenges and these include rehabilitation of offices for the workers, provision of convenience for workers at their various places of works specially at the Centenary city.
“Also include provision of equipment, regular training of workforce especially those newly recruited ones to meet the ultimal production”, she stated.
Similarly, Comrade Prof. Ogugua Egwu, state Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
appealed to the state governor to restate the salaries of workers at the state College of Education, Ikwo.
The theme of this year’s 2025 workers day celebration in Ebonyi was “Reclaiming the Civil Space in Midst Economic Hardship”.
Salient Times learnt that most of the state ministers at the Centenary city Abakiliki, don’t have conveniences for workers and functional water system and power.
