Governor Charles Soludo has announced the clearance of seven years’ worth of pension and gratuity arrears owed to retirees in Anambra State.
The declaration was made during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration in Awka, where he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of civil servants.
“In the area of gratuity of retired workforce, we have paid arrears of gratuity which we inherited when I came into office, and I am happy to report that except there is anyone who has not completed his or her documentation, we cleared the backlog of pension arrears of four years,” Soludo said.
He further detailed progress on pension payments, saying: “Similarly, for those who retired from the civil service that were also being owed four years of pensions amounting to N14 billion, I am happy to announce that we paid for 2018, paid 2019, paid 2020, and now it is remaining one year which is 2021, and it would be paid shortly.”
Reiterating his administration’s resolve to prioritize workers’ welfare despite economic challenges, the governor added “Within the available resources as a government, my commitment to the labour force is that we will continue to work very hard to improve the working conditions and welfare of our workforce.”
In his earlier remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra State, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, commended the governor’s efforts but urged further reforms.
He called on the state government to commence immediate implementation of the contributory pension scheme, noting it was one of the key recommendations of a joint committee aimed at securing the future of retirees.
Nwafor also appealed for the prompt payment of outstanding allowances for non-teaching staff under the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and post-primary school service.
These workers, he noted, have yet to receive the approved 17.5 percent peculiarity allowance.
He stressed the need for parity, adding that non-teaching staff deserve “equitable treatment similar to the 27.5 percent granted to teachers.”
Additionally, Nwafor urged the full implementation of the approved Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS) and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHSS).
He further advocated for expanded training opportunities for workers and enhanced security in the state’s workforce system.
