By Alex Enebeli

The Enugu State government has begun payment of gratuity to workers in the state civil service, who retired in January.

The Accountant General of the state, Mr Anthony Okenwa, confirmed this to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday.

Okenwa said the gratuity payment was in line with the directive of Gov. Peter Mbah to pay retirees, who had passed through biometric verification mandated by the state.

He added that the backlog of gratuities from 2010 to 2024 had been frozen for verification of workers who retired within the period,.

” Mbah’s determination is to clear the arrears of inherited pensions and gratuities for all workers.

“As directed by the governor, we have started paying gratuities to workers in the state civil service who retired in January this year.

“The backlog of gratuities for those who retired between 2010 and 2024 will be paid in installments as soon as verification exercise for the retirees is concluded,” Okenwa said.

He said the governor’s directive was for all retirees to receive arrears of their pensions and gratuities in installments until they are completely cleared. (NAN)