By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
The Abia State Government has commenced the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired workers of the state and local government councils, a development the Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has described as a significant step towards addressing the long-standing financial challenges facing retirees.
FENRAD commended Governor Alex Otti for initiating measures to settle the accumulated gratuity liabilities, while urging the government to ensure transparency, accountability and effective monitoring throughout the payment process.
According to the civil society organisation, the Abia State Government has identified an estimated ₦61.8 billion in outstanding gratuity liabilities owed to state and local government retirees covering the period from 2001 to 2025.
FENRAD also welcomed the government’s plan to address the liability through a structured framework incorporated into the 2026–2031 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).
The organisation said the approach demonstrated a commitment to tackling the accumulated liability systematically and preventing the backlog from increasing.
FENRAD: Gratuity is a right, not a favour
FENRAD Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, said retirement gratuity should be treated as a legitimate entitlement earned through years of public service and not as a political favour or act of government benevolence.
He noted that for many retirees, particularly elderly beneficiaries, gratuity payments could determine their ability to meet essential needs, including medical expenses, food, housing and family obligations.
Nwafor therefore urged the Abia State Government to sustain the payment programme until all verified and legitimately entitled retirees receive their outstanding benefits.
Group demands transparency in payment process
While commending the commencement of payments, FENRAD called for strict monitoring and transparency throughout the disbursement process.
It urged the government to publish a clear payment schedule indicating the categories or batches of retirees to be paid and the expected timelines.
The organisation also called for an accurate and regularly updated database of verified beneficiaries to ensure that no legitimate retiree is excluded.
FENRAD further urged the government to make payments directly to verified beneficiaries and publish periodic disbursement reports showing the amount released, amount paid, number of beneficiaries settled and the outstanding balance.
It recommended that retirees who have waited the longest, particularly vulnerable beneficiaries, be given appropriate priority.
FENRAD seeks complaints mechanism, audit
The organisation called for an effective complaints and verification mechanism through which retirees could report omissions, discrepancies, failed payments and other challenges.
It also urged the government to ensure that every naira released for gratuity payments is properly accounted for through appropriate audit and reconciliation mechanisms.
FENRAD welcomed the reported use of a dedicated payment mechanism, verification and biometric validation, saying such measures could strengthen the integrity of the process and reduce the risk of duplicate, fraudulent or fictitious claims.
It, however, cautioned that verification should not become a source of unnecessary delays or hardship for genuine retirees.
The group also urged the government to insulate the payment process from political interference, favouritism and unofficial charges.
“No retiree should require political connections or personal influence to access a legitimate retirement entitlement,” FENRAD said.
Group urges government to prevent fresh arrears
FENRAD said the ultimate objective should not only be to clear the existing backlog but also to prevent the accumulation of fresh gratuity arrears.
It urged the government to establish a predictable and sustainable system under which retirement benefits are adequately budgeted and paid within reasonable timelines.
The organisation recommended that the government regularly disclose four key figures to enable citizens, retirees and civil society groups to monitor progress: amount appropriated, amount released, amount disbursed and outstanding liability.
FENRAD also called for collaboration among the state government, pensioners’ associations, labour unions, civil society organisations and the media in monitoring implementation.
According to the organisation, independent civic oversight would strengthen public confidence and help identify administrative challenges early enough for corrective action.
FENRAD commends Governor Otti
FENRAD acknowledged the commencement of gratuity payments as a positive development and specifically commended Governor Alex Otti for taking steps to address the accumulated liability.
The organisation, however, stressed that the real measure of success would not be the announcement of payments but the actual receipt of funds by verified retirees.
It said every verified beneficiary should receive their legitimate entitlement, every naira released should be traceable and every omission should have an effective mechanism for redress.
FENRAD urged retirees, pensioners’ associations, civil society organisations, labour groups, the media and the general public to remain constructively engaged in monitoring the implementation of the payment programme.
It expressed optimism that, if properly implemented, the initiative could help restore dignity to Abia’s retired workers and strengthen public confidence in the state’s financial and administrative systems.
The organisation urged the Abia State Government to sustain the programme until no verified retiree is left behind.
