Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved the release of the first tranche of ₦1.16 billion toward settling outstanding entitlements for 714 disengaged staff from the state's Colleges of Education in Ekiadolor and Igueben.
The total package, amounting to ₦4.6 billion, will be disbursed in four equal installments, providing much-needed financial relief to hundreds of families impacted by the workers' dismissal during the previous administration.
The affected beneficiaries include 682 pensioners from the College of Education in Ekiadolor and 32 from the College of Education in Igueben, who were let go under controversial circumstances by former Governor Godwin Obaseki's regime.
These dismissals stemmed from a broader restructuring of state-owned tertiary institutions, including the handover of the Ekiadolor campus to the federal government and unfulfilled plans for new campuses in areas like Abudu, Igueben, and Afuze.
The payments are being processed in full compliance with Nigeria's Pension Act, underscoring the Okpebholo administration's emphasis on legal and equitable resolutions.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, described the approval as a "milestone" in a statement issued from Benin City on Monday, highlighting Governor Okpebholo's dedication to fairness, justice, and workforce welfare.
"This bold action is a continuation of the government's reform drive to reposition the education sector while ensuring that those impacted by earlier sackings are not left behind," Itua noted, adding that the state reassures all retirees and disengaged staff that every legitimate claim will be fully settled.
With this latest intervention, the Edo State Government has now released a cumulative ₦1.4 billion across four Colleges of Education, easing the burden on families and reinforcing the administration's commitment to those who contributed to the state's educational growth.
The funds are expected to cover pensions, gratuities, and other accrued benefits, bringing closure to years of advocacy by the affected workers.
In a related development, Governor Okpebholo has also greenlit an additional ₦292 million as the second tranche of entitlements for former staff of the Colleges of Agriculture in Iguoriakhi and Agenebode, further demonstrating the administration's proactive stance on settling legacy debts in the education and agriculture sectors.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts under the "Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo," a ₦675 billion fiscal plan signed into law earlier, which prioritizes recurrent and capital expenditures in education and human capital development.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com