The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, has officially announced the allocation of an additional N1.6 billion for the payment of gratuities to retirees in Akwa Ibom State. This amount encompasses retired local government and primary school teachers, as well as retired civil servants.
Mr. Udoh explained that this move aligns with Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s commitment to reducing the arrears owed to retired workers. This initiative is part of the Governor’s pledge to consistently set aside funds to address the payment of gratuities.
Furthermore, Governor Eno had previously released a substantial sum of 3 billion Naira for the same purpose, culminating in a total allocation of 4.6 billion Naira towards gratuity payments. This achievement has been recognized as a significant milestone.
It’s worth noting that retired workers in the state expressed regret over the perceived insensitivity to their concerns during the tenure of the immediate past governor, Udom Emmanuel.