Abia Begins Payment Of N61.8bn Gratuity Arrears To Pensioners

The Abia State Government has commenced payment of gratuity arrears to verified pensioners of the state and local governments who retired between 2001 and 2010.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday, August 24, 2026, at Government House, Umuahia, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the State Executive Council approved a framework for addressing the outstanding gratuity owed to retirees at both the state and local government levels.

According to him, a review by a government committee put the total outstanding gratuity liability at N61.8 billion.

He said the liability comprised N7.2 billion accumulated between 2001 and 2010, N43.6 billion incurred between 2011 and May 2023, and N10.9 billion accumulated from May 2023 to date.

The Commissioner said the review also examined payments made by previous administrations and the state's capacity to address the outstanding obligations while sustaining ongoing development programmes.

Kanu said the government could not clear the entire 24 year backlog within three years but was committed to establishing a sustainable system for continuous payment and preventing the accumulation of fresh arrears.

“We cannot realistically clear the mess of 24 years within three years, namely the misrule and maladministration that brought us as a state to this sorry past.

“But, we are determined to establish a system that guarantees continuous payment and prevents the accumulation of fresh arrears.”

He disclosed that the annual financial implications of gratuity payments from 2026 to 2031 would be incorporated into the state's Medium Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets.

The Commissioner said payments would be made directly to verified beneficiaries through a dedicated gratuity payment platform linked to the State Treasury Single Account.

He added that biometric validation would be used to prevent duplication, fraud and other irregularities, while the retirees' database would undergo further cleaning and validation.

According to him, subsequent payments would prioritise the oldest outstanding arrears and beneficiaries considered to be experiencing the greatest social impact.

Kanu said the government recognised the difficulties caused by the prolonged non-payment of gratuity and remained committed to ensuring that verified beneficiaries received their entitlements.

He confirmed that beneficiaries had already started receiving payments across the state.

The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu, said the current payment covers retirees from 2001 to 2010, adding that the government would defray the outstanding gratuity in phases because of the amount involved.

To address complaints relating to the payment process, the government established a dedicated helpline through the Abia State Citizens Contact Centre.

The helpline, 0800-0000232, will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on working days. Complaints can also be submitted by email through contactcentre@abiastate.gov.ng, which will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the Accountant General of the State, Mrs. Njum Onyemenam, were present at the briefing.