Akwa Ibom Governor Approves N1bn For 335 Retirees, Pensioners

To cushion the excruciating pains occasioned by the harsh economic realities especially in the poor and vulnerable homes across the country, Governor Udom Emmanuel has announced the release of N1billion to no fewer than 335 retired primary school teachers.

The head of service (HoS) in Akwa Ibom State, Elder Effiong Essien, explained at the weekend that the beneficiaries of the windfall are specifically “the retired primary school teachers, the next-of-kin of those already dead and the vulnerable ones”.

This followed protests and litigations by the retired pensioners and  next-of-kins  to those already dead over unpaid entitlements to several beneficiaries after years of service to successive governments in the state.

According to Essien, who commended Governor Emmanuel for the swift decision to address the matter, said relevant ministries and agencies saddled with the disbursement of the cash to the beneficiaries had since commenced payment.

“The N1 billion released as entitlements of the retired primary school teachers has been paid to the beneficiaries”, he said.

Essien listed the beneficiaries to include 123 living and retired teachers, 180 next-of- kin of retired teachers and 32 vulnerable persons.

He, therefore, stressed the need for more of such interventions in order to calm the frayed nerves as the windfall bad been prudently utilized to address the concerns of the former civil service employees.

‘’There should be more of such interventions, considering the very judicious use of the N1 billion that was allocated by government,” he stressed.