ByINEMESIT AKPAN-NSOH, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State Government has disclosed that it has commenced payment of 40 years accumulated pension and gratuities of retired primary school teachers and their next of kins.

Head of Civil Service (HOC), Effiong Essien, who disclosed this in Uyo, condemned the protest by some of the retirees yesterday, saying the payment started on Monday, April 19, 2021, as promised.

Effiong said the payment would be done in batches, adding that the concerned retirees had started receiving payment alerts.

He explained that the process would continue throughout the week, noting that the state government might engage in a public show of the payment to convince ‘doubting Thomases’ that it was sincere in delivering its promises.

He explained that the payment, which spanned four decades, showed that the government was not only humane but that Governor Udom Emmanuel was friendly to workers.

“It was published that payment of the backlog of gratuities have been left behind by previous government and administration in the state, besides 1976 and 1988 for retired primary school teachers and their next of kins that the payment will start on Monday.

“All arrangements have been made for the payment and they went to protest on the streets as if they didn’t see publication of the payment.

“Actually, the payment started on Monday and it continued yesterday. Most of those who have been selected for payment have received alerts and if everything is put together, we will put a public show of the payment for the pensioners before the weekend,” he said. (The Guardian)