By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State government under the watch of Governor David Umahi has assured the state civil servants of an exit package beginning from May 2023.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Uchenna Orji said this was part of the outcome of the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting last Tuesday at New Government House, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
According to Orji, the Exco noted the proposal of the State Government to pay an exit package of Fifteen Thousand Naira (15,000.00) to each of the State Civil Servants and Ten Thousand Naira (10,000.00) to each of the Local Government employees and approved that the said sums be paid to the respective employees without tax, with effect from May 2023.
He said the Exco also received a report on the progress made in sorting out the issues surrounding the arrears of pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants in the State.
The Exco in his words noted that the total arrears of pensions and gratuities owed to the State retirees, including arrears from the previous administrations are N4,243,348,571.21 and N485,953,423.13 respectively.
He said the Executive Council members have approved the immediate payment of the total arrears of pensions due to the State Pensioners amounting to N485,953,423.13 covering arrears from all the previous administrations.
Orji added: "Exco noted the outstanding gratuities due to the State retirees from the inception of the State worth N4,243,348,571.21 and approved that the sum of One Billion Naira be released for payment as gratuities to the State retirees effective May 2023, payable from the funds accruing from Stamp Duties, while the balance of the outstanding sum will be carried over to the next administration.
"Exco noted that the Local Government Councils are not owing any arrears of pensions to their retirees except outstanding gratuities which are being worked out. Exco, therefore, approved that the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira (N500,000,000.00) be released in the interim from funds accruing from Stamp Duties for the commencement of immediate payment of the arrears of gratuities due to Local Government retirees."
The Commissioner disclosed that the Exco approved the release of the sum of Three Hundred Million (N300,000,000.00) to be paid as an intervention fund to Ebonyi State University (EBSU) effective May 2023.
He further stated: "Exco also approved the release of the sum of One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000.00) as an intervention fund to David Umahi University Teaching Hospital. Similarly, an intervention fund of One Hundred (N100,000,000.00) was also made to David Umahi University of Health Sciences effective, May 2023.
"This intervention is made considering the exigencies of the handover programmes of the University to the Federal Government."
