The Enugu State Government has accepted the cost of about N32 billion in excellent legacy gratuities owed to retirees with the primary tranche of N10 billion scheduled for launch from subsequent week.
The Secretary to the Enugu State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this on Friday whereas briefing reporters on the Government House, Enugu, after the State Executive Council assembly.
At the briefing had been the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo; Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Chimaobi Okorie; and Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, Benedett Okoli, a professor.
Mr Onyia, a professor, mentioned the cost was a part of the dedication of the Governor Peter Mbah administration to clear the inherited gratuity liabilities earlier than the top of his first tenure.
He defined that the excellent gratuities had been liabilities inherited by the current administration.
The SSG identified that the state authorities had made provisions for the settlement of the gratuities within the 2026 funds, which had been accepted by the Enugu State House of Assembly.
“This amount of money was put in the 2026 budget and approved by the Enugu State House of Assembly. So, it is in appropriation law,” he mentioned.
The official emphasised that the choice was not a rapidly conceived measure however a part of a deliberate course of to handle the state’s excellent obligations to retired staff.
According to him, the federal government suspended the present gratuity verification course of in December 2025 and established a verification committee to assessment data relationship again to 2000.
He mentioned the train was designed to set up the precise liabilities by analyzing retirees’ data and supporting paperwork, including that the quantity accepted by the Executive Council was primarily based on the result of the verification.
Mr Onyia mentioned the primary N10 billion tranche could be launched to begin funds, after which subsequent tranches would observe till your complete verified legal responsibility of roughly N32 billion was cleared.
The SSG added that the administration was additionally addressing gratuity obligations on the native authorities degree, the place the excellent publicity was estimated at greater than N10 billion.
He mentioned Governor Mbah had accepted a gathering of the Economic Council to assessment the native authorities liabilities to allow native authorities retirees to begin receiving their gratuities quickly, alongside their counterparts on the state degree.
He clarified that the present train targeted on legacy gratuities, noting that the federal government had already commenced the cost of excellent pension obligations following the verification of eligible beneficiaries.
“The gratuity owed to every retiree across the board from 2000 will be paid,” he mentioned.
The official additionally said that the verification committee, which he chaired, had reviewed the data of 66,783 individuals throughout the workforce and pension-gratuity classes.
He defined that the verification train was essential to guard in opposition to fraudulent claims and make sure that funds had been made to respectable beneficiaries.
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He clarified that retirees, who had considerations with the result of the verifications had been free to submit their complaints to the verification committee for additional assessment.
Mr Onyia mentioned that clearing the inherited gratuity liabilities was an essential step in direction of guaranteeing that the state didn’t proceed to accumulate unpaid retirement advantages for future administrations.
He reiterated that the Mr Mbah administration was dedicated to settling the verified legacy obligations whereas sustaining funds to eligible pensioners and putting in a extra sustainable pension system for the state.
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