By : Asuquo Cletus Felix
The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu has approved the sum of N10 Billion Naira for payment of outstanding gratuities for retired Civil and Public Servants in the state.
Otu’s approval was contained in a press release issued on Friday, by Nsa Gill the Chief Press secretary to the Governor titled “PLAN FOR THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITIES, GOVERNOR OTU APPROVES N10 BILLION IN FIRST HALF”.
Nsa Gill noted that the governor has also 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 Prof Anthony Owan Enoh.
The committee is expected to meet with the (SSG) on Monday with a view to working out modalities for the payment of gratuities to retired Civil and Public officers in Cross River State.
“His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Governor of Cross River State, has approved the sum of N10 Billion Naira only, to address the outstanding payment of gratuities for retired Civil and Public Servants in the State.
“The Governor has equally approved the Constitution of a committee of the statey and Local Pension Unions under the headship of the Secretary to the State Government.
“The committee is expected to meet with the SSG, on Monday 29th julyy 2024 with a view to working out modalities for the payment of gratuities to retired Civil and Public officer’s in Cross River State.”
It was gathered that the delay for the commencement of payment since last year, was as a result of audit and verification exercise.
So far, the audit and verification exercise has uncovered over 2,000 ghost pension workers, who Nsa Gill noted, has been “expunged from both the State and Local Government Pensions Payroll”.
With the near completion of the exercise to authenticate genuine pensioners, payment of gratuities will commence in August 2024.
