Enugu State Government Begins Gratuity Verification for Retirees, Next of Kin
The Enugu State Government has announced the commencement of a gratuity verification exercise for retirees and the next of kin of deceased pensioners. The exercise, which is set to begin on Monday, February 24, 2025, will be conducted across the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, who disclosed this in a statement on February 17, 2025, said the verification process aims to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries receive gratuity payments, thereby eliminating fraud and unnecessary delays.
“This exercise is part of the government’s ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in the disbursement of gratuity and related entitlements. We urge all eligible retirees and next of kin to participate as scheduled to avoid any issues with their payments,” Onyia stated.
A Step Towards Transparency
The verification exercise follows previous successful verification programs for active workers and pensioners. According to government sources, this initiative is designed to clean up the records and prevent undue claims that could slow down the payment process.
A retired civil servant, Chief Emeka Nwobodo, commended the government’s effort, describing it as “long overdue” and crucial for pensioners who have waited years for their entitlements.
“Many of us retired long ago but have yet to receive our gratuities. If this exercise will fast-track payments, then it is a welcome development,” Nwobodo said.
Eligibility and Required Documents
The exercise is open to:
Retirees who are yet to receive their gratuity payments.
Next of kin of deceased retirees eligible for entitlements.
Participants are required to present documents, including their Pension Identification Card, Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), bank statements, and retirement notice. Next of kin must provide a death certificate and a letter of administration or affidavit to verify their claims.
Verification Schedule and Venues
The government has structured the exercise to take place at the headquarters of each LGA, beginning with Aninri LGA on February 24 and ending with a mop-up exercise for diaspora retirees from April 7 to April 17, 2025. Verification starts at 8:00 AM daily at designated centers, while diaspora retirees will undergo virtual verification from 9:00 AM daily.
Prof. Onyia assured retirees who are abroad or hospitalized that provisions have been made for remote verification.
“Retirees who cannot be physically present should submit a signed affidavit or authorization letter and email scanned copies of their documents to verifygratuity@gmail.com,” he explained.
Public Reactions and Government’s Assurance
Some retirees have expressed mixed reactions, with many hopeful that the exercise will lead to speedy disbursement of payments. Others, however, have urged the government to ensure transparency in the final payment process.
In response, Prof. Onyia reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to fairness, stating that no qualified retiree or next of kin will be left out.
“Governor Peter Mbah’s administration is committed to ensuring that all retirees get their rightful entitlements without unnecessary bureaucracy,” he said.
For further inquiries, retirees and their families can contact the helpline at 0916-810-1470 or send an email to verifygratuity@gmail.com. GMTNewsng
