EBONYI STATE GOVT COMMENCES PAYMENT OF GRATUITY

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Ebonyi State Government has commenced payment of gratuities to 1,715 verified retirees from the state civil service.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jude Okpor, announced this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the state Executive Council Meeting at the Government House Abakaliki.

Mr. Okpor said though N4.3 Billion was initially earmarked for the payment of gratuities to the retirees, the figure was reduced to N3.8 Billion following the computation of data of eligible beneficiaries by the gratuity payment committee.

The Commissioner said the State Executive Council received a report from a Committee investigating financial impropriety involving a former General Manager, Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Blending Plant Onuebonyi, Professor Ogbonnaya Chukwu and made recommendations, which included that the state government should charge him for criminal conduct.

Mr. Okpor said the Council also received a progress report from the State Palliative Committee, noting that plans had reached advanced stage for the distribution of one hundred thousand bags of rice and other materials to vulnerable households in the state soon.

He added that the State Civil Service Commission informed the Council that it had received 13,834 applications for the process of recruiting 1,454 qualified persons into the state civil service

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU