The Abia State Government has alleged that the administrations of former governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu paid only 0.01 per cent of gratuities owed to workers who retired from the state and local government systems between 2011 and 2023.

The government said the figure was contained in the report of a committee set up to review outstanding gratuity liabilities in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

According to Kanu, the committee reviewed records from the State Pensions Board and Local Government Pensions Board to determine the extent of unpaid gratuities accumulated over the years.

He said the current administration had commenced the payment of outstanding gratuities to verified beneficiaries, beginning with retirees whose entitlements accrued between 2001 and 2010.

The committee’s report, according to the commissioner, established the total outstanding gratuity liability at N61.8 billion for both state and local government retirees.

Of the amount, N7.2 billion was outstanding for the period between 2001 and 2010, while N43.6 billion accumulated between 2011 and May 29, 2023.

A further N10.9 billion accrued from May 30, 2023, to date.

Kanu said the government considered the prolonged impact of unpaid gratuities on retirees and the need to prevent the accumulation of further arrears in determining how the liabilities would be settled.

He said the committee recommended that the financial requirements for gratuity payments between 2026 and 2031 be incorporated into the state’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets.

The committee also recommended that payments be made directly to verified beneficiaries through a dedicated gratuity payment platform linked to the state’s Treasury Single Account.

The Abia Government said the approach was intended to ensure a steady and transparent payment process while addressing the backlog of gratuities owed to retirees.