Enugu Media Village (EMV), the Most Updated Online News Platform— OCTOBER 17, 2026.
THE Enugu State Government has approved approximately ₦32 billion to settle outstanding legacy gratuities owed to retired workers, with an initial ₦10 billion expected to be released from next week to commence payments.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this on Friday while briefing journalists at the Government House, Enugu, following a State Executive Council meeting.
He explained that the initiative forms part of Governor Peter Mbah’s administration’s commitment to clearing inherited gratuity liabilities and ensuring that eligible retirees receive their long-awaited entitlements before the end of the governor’s first tenure.
According to Onyia, provisions for the settlement have already been included in the 2026 state budget, which was approved by the Enugu State House of Assembly.
Verification Exercise Determines Outstanding Liabilities
The SSG disclosed that the government suspended the previous gratuity verification process in December 2025 and established a committee to examine retirees’ records and supporting documents dating back to 2000.
He said the exercise was designed to establish the actual amount owed and ensure that public funds are disbursed only to legitimate beneficiaries.
Onyia added that the committee’s findings informed the government’s approval of the approximately ₦32 billion required to settle the verified outstanding gratuities.
The first ₦10 billion tranche is expected to initiate the payment process, with subsequent releases to follow until the verified liabilities are cleared.
He further revealed that the verification committee reviewed records involving 66,783 persons across workforce and pension-gratuity categories.
Retirees who have concerns about the outcome of the verification exercise have been encouraged to submit complaints to the committee for further review.
Local Government Retirees Also in Focus
Beyond state-level obligations, the government is also working towards addressing outstanding gratuity liabilities owed to retired local government workers, estimated at more than ₦10 billion.
Onyia disclosed that Governor Mbah had approved a meeting of the State Economic Council to review the liabilities and determine an appropriate framework for commencing payments to eligible local government retirees.
He clarified that the current ₦32 billion approval concerns legacy gratuities, while the administration has also commenced the settlement of outstanding pension obligations following the verification of eligible beneficiaries.
Towards a Sustainable Pension System
The SSG described the planned settlement as an important step towards addressing accumulated retirement obligations and preventing unpaid benefits from becoming a recurring burden for future administrations.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to clearing verified liabilities, sustaining payments to eligible pensioners and establishing a more sustainable pension system in Enugu State.
The development is expected to bring renewed hope to retirees who have waited for years to receive their gratuity entitlements, although the actual impact will depend on the timely release of funds and completion of payments to verified beneficiaries.
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