The Abia State Government has alleged that the administrations of former governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu paid only 0.01 per cent of gratuities owed to workers who retired from the state and local government systems between 2011 and 2023.

The government said the figure was contained in a report submitted by a committee established to review outstanding gratuities owed to retirees across the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the review covered outstanding gratuities accumulated under successive administrations and formed part of the government’s efforts to address the backlog.

According to him, the committee’s findings showed that only 0.01 per cent of the gratuities owed between 2011 and 2023 had been paid by the administrations of Orji and Ikpeazu.

The commissioner also disclosed that the present administration had commenced payment of outstanding gratuities, beginning with verified beneficiaries who retired between 2001 and 2010.

He said the government was taking steps to ensure that the payment process was structured and sustainable, with verified beneficiaries to receive their entitlements through a dedicated payment system.

Kanu said the government was committed to addressing the longstanding gratuity burden while ensuring that further arrears did not accumulate.