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Amidst the nation’s economic downturn, retired civil servants in Ebonyi State, still awaiting their retirement benefits, are beseeching Governor Francis Nwifuru for assistance in alleviating their hunger.
The retirees, voicing their disappointment, revealed that Governor Nwifuru had assured them since September 2023 that their gratuities and accumulated pensions would be disbursed by December 2023, yet they have not received any payments.
They voiced their ordeal, enduring eight years of hardship during the tenure of former governor David Umahi, before Governor Nwifuru took steps to address their plight.
They shared their worries, mentioning that some of them are already feeling anxious, as the process abruptly stopped when it reached their position.
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In discussions with the press in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, certain retirees affected by the situation expressed gratitude towards Nwifuru for restoring their optimism, yet urged him to fulfill his pledge, emphasizing their anticipation of receiving payments akin to others.
The committee appointed by the state government to address the long-overdue gratuities and pensions owed to retirees since the state’s inception in 1996 up to 2021, under the leadership of Professor Adeline Idike, only achieved payment for retirees who underwent screening in November and December 2022.
However, there has been no update regarding the Adeline Idike Committee since then, suggesting it may have disbanded, sparking fears that the remaining retirees awaiting payment may have been neglected once again.
Despite numerous attempts, we were unable to get a response from Mrs. Rita-Mary Okoro, the state Head of Service, concerning this matter.
