Bayelsa Clears N12bn Gratuities Backlog

Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri, has presented cheques worth N12 billion to over 1,000 retirees across the eight local government areas of the state, clearing a long backlog of gratuities.

The governor presented the cheques during a conference held at the Government House, Yenagoa, with the theme, “Promoting Local Government Workers’ Welfare: The Bayelsa Model.”

In his remarks, Governor Diri said, paying workers’ salaries and retirees’ gratuities was a duty, not a favour. He recalled that when he first cleared the backlog dating back to 2007, critics accused him of seeking cheap political points.

“The moment you retire at 60 or 65, you become a senior citizen entitled to your gratuity. My late father was a teacher who would have died without his pensions if not for me. That memory pushed me to prioritise clearing gratuity arrears,” he said.

The governor also noted that when the state received a windfall in allocation, he directed the immediate release of N7 billion to settle pensions and gratuities. He thanked his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for supervising councils and ensuring that the reforms were properly implemented.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has honoured Governor Diri with an award as the Best Governor on Local Government Reforms in Nigeria.

NULGE president, Comrade Aliyu Kankara, praised the governor’s achievements in transforming the local government system through fiscal reforms that improved service delivery, staff welfare, promotions and regular financial benefits.

He said, “The governor of Bayelsa State has excelled where many others failed by prioritising the welfare of workers at the grassroots. From available records, his administration has paid over N20 billion in gratuity arrears since 2020. Bayelsa is also the first state to pay retirement entitlements immediately after service.”

Kankara listed other achievements, including the implementation of N80,000 minimum wage for council workers, an additional 25-30 per cent salary increases, and support for councils to pay primary school teachers’ salaries.

The national president of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Dr Kabir Sani, also appreciated the governor for improving the lives of local government workers in the state, including those from his union.