The Enugu State Government has approved the payment of approximately N32 billion in outstanding gratuities owed to retirees, with an initial N10 billion tranche to be released to begin the process.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, announced the decision on Friday while briefing journalists at Government House after a State Executive Council meeting. He was accompanied by several commissioners, including the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Dr Malachy Agbo.
Onyia said the payment was part of Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to clear inherited gratuity liabilities before the end of his first term. He added that the funds had been provided for in the 2026 budget approved by the Enugu State House of Assembly.
According to the SSG, the government suspended the existing gratuity verification process in December 2025 and established a committee to review records dating back to 2000. The exercise covered 66,783 records across workforce and pension-gratuity categories.
He explained that the verification was intended to establish the state’s actual liabilities, prevent fraudulent claims and ensure that only eligible beneficiaries received payments. Retirees who dispute the outcome of the exercise may submit complaints to the committee for further review.
“The gratuity owed to every retiree across the board from 2000 will be paid,” Onyia said, adding that subsequent payments would follow the initial N10 billion release until the verified liability of about N32 billion was settled.
The SSG also disclosed that the government was working to address outstanding gratuities at the local government level, estimated at more than N10 billion. He said Governor Mbah had approved a meeting of the Economic Council to review the liabilities and facilitate payments to local government retirees.
Onyia clarified that the current exercise focused on legacy gratuities, noting that the administration had already begun paying outstanding pension obligations following the verification of eligible beneficiaries.
He said the government intended to settle inherited retirement liabilities while ensuring that future administrations did not accumulate similar arrears. The announcement comes amid criticism from opposition parties in the state, with the payment initiative potentially becoming an issue in the political debate ahead of the next governorship election.
