Ebonyi Clearing Pension Backlog to End Retirement Delays — Gov Nwifuru

Governor Francis Nwifuru has said that the Ebonyi State Government is prioritizing the clearance of outstanding pension and gratuity debts in order to end the long delays retirees often face before receiving their benefits.

Speaking during an address to workers and teachers, the governor explained that the state is currently making significant financial commitments to settle pension-related obligations accumulated over the years. According to him, the ongoing effort is part of a broader reform aimed at ensuring that civil servants receive their retirement benefits promptly once they leave service.

Nwifuru disclosed that the total financial burden tied to gratuities and pensions runs into about ₦10 billion to ₦11 billion, which the government is working steadily to clear. He explained that the state has set up a system through which funds are released regularly to address the backlog. Under the arrangement, between ₦1 billion and ₦2 billion is made available monthly to the committee responsible for processing and paying retirees’ benefits. The committee then distributes the funds to eligible retirees as part of the effort to gradually eliminate the accumulated debt.

The governor noted that clearing these outstanding obligations is necessary to create a more reliable retirement system for workers in the state. He said the ultimate goal is to ensure that civil servants receive their gratuity and begin receiving pension payments immediately after retirement, rather than waiting for many years.

“In the past, some retirees had to wait for as long as 10 to 15 years before receiving their gratuities,” Nwifuru said. “What we are trying to do now is to build a system where once you retire, your gratuity and pension will come without unnecessary delay.”

According to the governor, the reforms being introduced by the state government will help restore confidence among workers by assuring them that their welfare will be protected even after leaving active service. Nwifuru further explained that the state government has already implemented a similar system within the state civil service, where workers who retire are expected to receive their gratuities alongside their final salary payments. He expressed optimism that the same approach would soon be extended to the local government level once the existing pension backlog is cleared.

The governor added that the state government is committed to completing the process within the shortest possible time. He indicated that if the current pace of payment continues, the outstanding pension and gratuity obligations could be fully addressed within the next one to two months. Once that milestone is achieved, the state will be better positioned to implement other welfare policies designed to improve the working conditions of civil servants.

Nwifuru stressed that addressing pension debts is not only a financial responsibility but also a moral obligation to workers who have dedicated years of service to the state. He therefore urged workers and retirees to continue supporting the government’s efforts while the process of clearing the backlog continues.

For many civil servants in Ebonyi, the government’s commitment to resolving long-standing pension issues is seen as a crucial step toward creating a more dependable retirement system—one where workers can look forward to receiving their benefits without the prolonged uncertainty that characterized previous years.