Kwara state government has commenced the payment of gratuity to one thousand and twenty five(1,025) pensioners for 2009/2010 category in the state.
Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Ilorin, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Alhaji Aliyu Kora, said that the payment was made from the N3.5 billion SURE-P refund from the federal government.
Accoding to him, traditional rulers in the state would benefit from the N3.5 billion SURE-P refund, including local government workers, State Universal Basic Education Board and capital projects.
He appealed to other categories of pensioners from 2011 till date to exercise patience on payment of their gratuity.
Alhaji Kora said the state governor since assumption of office,had adhered to prompt payment of salaries, pension and continuous release of funds for gratuity payments.
The commissioner said the present administration inherited huge arrears running into several billions of naira, ranging from gratuities to pension and arrears of salary payments.
In his address , Kwara state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Saidu Oladimeji, commended the state government on the payment of gratuity.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
