Abia begins payment of ₦61.8bn retirees’ gratuity arrears, FENRAD commends Otti

Nkem Ukaegbu, Umuahia

Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Nigeria, has commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, and the state government for commencing the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired workers of the state and local government councils.

FENRAD described the development as a significant step towards addressing the longstanding financial burden faced by many retirees and their families, particularly beneficiaries who have waited for several years to receive entitlements earned through their years of public service.

The commendation was contained in a statement signed by FENRAD Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, in Umuahia.

According to the organisation, the Abia State Government has identified an estimated ₦61.8 billion in outstanding gratuity liabilities covering state and local government retirees from 2001 to 2025.

The government has also indicated that it intends to address the liability through a structured framework incorporated into the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework covering 2026 to 2031.

FENRAD said the approach was commendable because it provides a structured pathway for addressing the accumulated liability instead of allowing the backlog to continue to increase.

Gratuity is a right, not a favour
The organisation stressed that retirement gratuity should not be treated as a political favour or an act of government benevolence, but as a legitimate entitlement earned through years of service.

FENRAD noted that for many elderly retirees, the payment of gratuities could determine their ability to meet essential needs such as medical expenses, food, accommodation and family responsibilities.

It therefore urged the Abia State Government to sustain the payment programme until all verified and legitimately entitled retirees receive their benefits.

“Gratuity is a right, not a favour,” the organisation maintained, stressing that retirees should not have to depend on political connections or personal influence to access their legitimate entitlements.

FENRAD demands transparency
While commending the commencement of the payments, FENRAD said the credibility of the programme would ultimately depend on the transparency, efficiency and accountability of the disbursement process.

The organisation called on the state government to make information on the implementation of the programme available to the public, including the amount released, amount disbursed, number of beneficiaries paid and the outstanding liability.

FENRAD specifically urged the government to publish a clear payment schedule indicating the various categories or batches of retirees to be paid and the expected timelines.

It also called for the maintenance of an accurate and regularly updated database of verified beneficiaries to ensure that genuine retirees are not excluded from the programme.

According to the group, payments should be made directly to verified beneficiaries without unnecessary intermediaries or unofficial agents.

FENRAD further requested periodic disbursement reports showing the amount released, amount paid, number of beneficiaries settled and the balance remaining.

Vulnerable and elderly retirees should be prioritised

The organisation urged the government to appropriately prioritise retirees who have waited the longest, particularly elderly and vulnerable beneficiaries.

It also called for an effective complaints and verification mechanism through which retirees can report omissions, discrepancies, failed payments and other challenges encountered during the process.

FENRAD stressed that every naira released for gratuity payments must be properly accounted for through appropriate audit and reconciliation mechanisms.

Verification must not create additional hardship

FENRAD welcomed the reported use of a dedicated payment mechanism as well as the government’s emphasis on verification and biometric validation.

The organisation said such measures could strengthen the integrity of the payment process and reduce the risk of duplicate, fraudulent or fictitious claims.

However, it cautioned that verification processes should not become a source of unnecessary delays or additional hardship for genuine retirees.

The organisation also urged the government to protect the payment process from political interference, favouritism and unofficial charges.

It said the principle guiding the programme should be straightforward: verified entitlement must determine payment, rather than political connection, personal influence or administrative privilege.

Civil society, labour and media urged to monitor process

FENRAD called for collaboration among the Abia State Government, pensioners’ associations, labour unions, civil society organisations and the media in monitoring the implementation of the gratuity payment programme.

According to the organisation, independent civic oversight would strengthen public confidence and help identify administrative challenges early enough for corrective measures to be taken.

It maintained that public monitoring was particularly important given the size of the outstanding liability and the number of retirees potentially affected by the programme.

Preventing a fresh backlog
While supporting the proposed medium-term approach to clearing the accumulated gratuity liability, FENRAD said the government should ensure that the current effort does not merely clear old debts only for another backlog to emerge.

It therefore urged the state government to establish a predictable and sustainable system under which retirement benefits are properly budgeted and paid within reasonable timelines.

The organisation said the reported ₦61.8 billion liability represented a substantial public obligation and should therefore be accompanied by regular public updates on the progress being made to reduce the debt.

FENRAD recommended a simple accountability framework based on four key figures: amount appropriated, amount released, amount disbursed, and outstanding liability.

It said regular publication of the figures would enable retirees, citizens, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to independently monitor the government’s progress.

FENRAD commends Otti, demands completion of process

FENRAD acknowledged the commencement of the gratuity payments as a positive development and an important response to the longstanding concerns of Abia’s retired workers.

The organisation commended Governor Alex Otti for taking steps to confront the accumulated gratuity burden and urged his administration to maintain the momentum until all verified beneficiaries receive their legitimate entitlements.

It, however, stressed that the real measure of success would not be the announcement or commencement of payment but the actual receipt of funds by eligible retirees.

FENRAD said every verified beneficiary should receive what is due, every naira released should be traceable, every omission should have a mechanism for redress, and every stage of the programme should be subject to appropriate accountability.

The organisation consequently called on retirees, pensioners’ associations, civil society organisations, labour groups, the media and the general public to remain constructively engaged in monitoring the implementation of the programme.

FENRAD expressed optimism that, if properly implemented, the initiative could become a significant milestone in restoring dignity to Abia’s retired workers and strengthening public confidence in the state’s financial and administrative systems.

The organisation reiterated its commendation of the commencement of the payments and urged the Abia State Government to ensure that no verified retiree is left behind.