The Anambra chapter of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) says that the state government owes its retirees over N14 billion outstanding gratuities.

NULGE explained that some of the retirees were dead already. 

“The state government is owing our retired staff over N14 billion outstanding gratuities and it is sad that many of these retired staff have died while struggling to get their entitlements,” Chikwelu Adigwe, the state NULGE President said on Sunday.

Mr Adigwe said the state government repeatedly claimed there was “no money”, despite revenues generated from local government revenue windows.

“As a union, we are making our position known to the state government. We have written urging the state government to re-constitute the Local Government Pension Board to solve these problems.

“When the board was functional, people received their gratuity in due time.

“The law to establish this board has been passed by the state assembly and we are urging the governor to do the needful so that all these problems of gratuities and pension arrears will stop,” he said.

Mr Adigwe expressed dissatisfaction using the transition committee to run the local government system in the state, saying it was affecting the administration of the 21 local councils negatively.

(NAN)