Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, has released money for the payment of gratuity to retired civil servants in the state.

The Accountant General of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Uwem Andrew-Essien, in a letter made available to journalists indicates that the money is for the payment of 306 retired civil servants who were scheduled for December 2015 gratuity.

Pastor Andrew-Essien disclosed that the State Government has within a year equally paid staff salary arrears to 1,227 workers, pension arrears to 4,304 pensioners as well as 2015 employment arrears to 2,249 civil servants.

The Accountant General stated that with the completion of the payment of 2015 gratuity, the State Government has commenced the compilation of names of civil servants who retired in 2016, saying that payment is done in batches in view of the huge amount involved.

He maintained that as a government responsible and committed to the well-being of her citizenry, all entitlements to civil servants both serving and retired would continue to remain a priority of the administration.

Pastor Andrew-Essien appealed to workers to reciprocate government’s kind gesture by showing commitment to their assigned official duties.