By Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
Ebonyi incumbent Governor David Umahi has assured of paying off the balance of pension of the retirees in the state before bowing out from his current office.
He gave the assurance during the 2023 May-Day Celebration at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.
According to Governor Umahi who was represented by his Deputy, Barrister Eric Igwe, the pension at about ₦480,000,000.00 today would be paid by his administration this month.
"In this month, we shall be paying off the balance of pension which stands today at about ₦480,000,000.00. It is good to note that no pension is owed in all our Local Government Areas," Umahi promised.
He noted that the balance for the gratuity for the Ebonyi State was said to be
₦4,200,000,000.00, and however, assured that his administration would also pay off 25% of the balance this month.
"My government shall be paying off 25%of this balance in May and the next government shall pay off the balance when we get our stamp-duty refund," he hinted.
He further explained: "For Local Government Areas, the actual figure is being worked out but ₦500,000,000.00 will be paid in May while the balance will be paid off with a Local Government Area refund of Sure-P and stamp duty.
"We must note that pensions and gratuities were almost not paid from the creation of the state.
"My government when we came on board engaged in paying billions of naira to defray these debts and what I stated above is the status position.
"I have approved our exit package of ₦10,000.00 to all workers of state and Local Government Areas which shall be added to their May salary and paid to them.
"I have approved ₦300,000,000.00 intervention fund to EBSU to further assist them in their payment of salaries while David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital and the University shall get ₦100,000,000.00 each to help them continue their infrastructure from the point where we had stopped due to no money."
He noted that in less than four weeks now, Ebonyi people would have a new government, and expressed confidence that the State Governor-elect, Chief Francis Nwifuru would continue the duty of governance.
"The new governor-elect Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru is a man who has been around and will continue the duty of governance from where we shall stop. I plead you give him peace and time to settle down," he said.
While begging for forgiveness from the state workers whom he might have stepped on their toes while in office, Governor Umahi declared his unreserved forgiveness to those who thought they offended him.
In an interview, the Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Inter-Party and Labour Matters, Dr Mrs Jennifer Adibe-Nwafor commended her principal for taking good care of the welfare of the workers in the state.
According to her, Governor Umahi's administration paid the promotion of workers' arrears, teachers' specialised salaries began, and a soft agricultural loan of over four billion Naira was given to the workers to have a second address, many of them were empowered under general State Empowerment Scheme.
Adibe-Nwafor noted that the administration of Governor Umahi had created over 1500 direct jobs and 2000 indirect jobs at David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, over 400 direct jobs and over 1500 indirect jobs at Ebonyi Famous Mall and through direct labour jobs in the State Ministry, Department and Agencies, MDAs, created over 30000 direct and indirect jobs as 99% of the infrastructure built in his government were executed by these MDAs using the local people.
She said that the newly constructed President Muhammadu Buhari International Airport which the Federal Government has approved the takeover, over 500 direct jobs have been created "and this will yield over 2000 indirect jobs in the next year. In all other sectors like agriculture, health, education State industries and the private sector, we can say we created over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs in Ebonyi State. At St. Margaret Umahi International Market, we have created over 10,000 indirect jobs
"In all, we can say to have created over 65,000 direct and indirect jobs. We have created four more federal institutions like David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, David Umahi Federal Teaching Hospital, Muhammadu Buhari International Airport and Isu College of Education.
"This means more income tax from both Federal employees and State employees to our government, improved welfare of the people, more funds to the economy and increased commercial activities in Ebonyi State," she added.
Recall that the Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC in Ebonyi State, Prof. Oguguo Egwu tasked the Governor Umahi-led government to engage more teachers in public primary and secondary schools to enhance the quality of life and education of children in the state.
"We believe that the engagement of more qualified teachers in our Primary and post-primary schools will enhance the quality of life and education. There should be engagement of more Doctors, Nurses and other health care professionals in the state," Egwu stated.
The NLC Boss alongside the Trade Unions Congress, TUC Chairman in Ebonyi, Comrade Chidi Igboji however, called on the state government to renovate the infrastructural facilities located in the various Secondary health care centres.
"Enhancing the welfare packages of the workers in the state will reduce the biting pressure in governance and show sincere concern to all the competing demands of the people in the state."
