After paying the sum of N10 billion as a first tranche for the payment of the backlog of retirees’ gratuities, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River state has also promised to release another tranche soon.
Speaking during the activities to mark the 2026 Workers Day at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Friday, the governor, who was represented by the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, said, “We inherited a gratuity volume of about 14 years from 2009 to 2023. In response, we set aside 10billion Naira for gratuity payment and have cleared outstanding gratuity up to 2015.
“Let me use this opportunity to announce that the next set of payments will be done in a couple of weeks.”
The governor said he was making an effort to address the issue of harmonisation of salary structure between state and local government services raised by Comrade Gregory Olayi and Comrade Ken Bassey, Chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) respectively.
He said, “My administration implemented a reverse hierarchy structure across the state. Some MTA enjoy special allowance because of their work environment, but this does not mean there are often or no different salary structures.”
Out clarified that, “On the upward review of the retirement age for health workers, I note that this benefit is already being enjoyed by teachers in the states. Government will review the matter further and communicate its position very, very soon.”
He thus expressed his administration’s commitment to “balancing development with workers’ welfare by harmonising both. We are ensuring equitable and purposeful governance.”