The empowerment of 2,000 widows and the release of over N1.5 billion by the Government of Ebonyi State for the immediate payment of the pension and gratuity to retired workers from 1996 when the state was created till date have been described as unprecedented, divine and a redefinition of governance.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abakaliki, the state capital by Lady Monica Ada Chidinma Eze, President and Founder of a grassroots NGO, the David Umahi Nweze Akubaraoha Ebonyi Transformation Agenda (DUNAETA).

“Engr. Umahi the amiable Governor of Ebonyi has by these acts not only redefine governance in Nigeria, but has made it both human and a divine mission to touch the lives of the people of Ebonyi State.

“The release of another N400 million for the immediate empowerment of over 2,000 widows domiciled across the 13 Local Government Area of the state to the tune of N200,000 each, puts Governor Umahi in a different class among political leaders in Nigeria,” she said.

DUNAETA noted with delight, that the widows empowerment programme has been expanded to accommodate additional 2,000 widows that will be selected, verified and paid the sum of N200,000 each by 1st October, 2017.

It said: “It is also on record that the N1 billion budgeted for the empowerment of 4,000 eligible Ebonyi indigenes is still being disbursed by the Ministry of Empowerment and Job Creation with about 1,000 people collecting their grants of up to N250,000 each while others who meet the criteria should expect to be paid with effect from Monday the 21st of August, 2017.”

DUNAETA expressed gratitude to God for the conclusion of the work of the Committee on the Verification of the State Pensions & Gratuities from October 2, 1996 to June 6, 2017 and formal approval of the Committee’s Report by the state Executive Council on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 which led to the release of the sum of N1.5 billion.

“It is now left to all eligible beneficiaries to proceed immediately to the office of the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State for verification in order to ensure that payments are disbursed with dispatch.

“These great steps to alleviate the impact of economic recession amongst our people simply show that we have truly, a divinely oriented administration in Ebonyi State,” it said.

Lady Eze who doubles as a Technical Adviser on Media to Governor Umahi, further stated that her mentor and boss has truly proved that he is touched by the plight of the pensioners, widows, youths and elders of Ebonyi State by approving all these pragmatic and humanitarian strategies.

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