By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has directed the payment of unpaid gratuities of pensioners in the state, saying the senior citizens deserve to enjoy what they have laboured for in their working years.
It was gathered that last Friday, Mr Diri released the sum of N250 million to offset part of this debt, which has spanned for over 12 years.
The fund released, according to information, has been welcomed by some of the beneficiaries, who have waited for years to receive their payments, but ignored by government.
It was learned that during the immediate past administration of Mr Seriake Dickson, efforts were made efforts to set aside N250 million monthly to pay the pensioners, but after the initial release of N1 billion for four months, the payment was stopped, forcing the pensioners into an abject poverty.
But the present government has said lower cadre of the retirees from levels 1 to 12 should be answered first before those in the senior level in the new scheme.
Adedapo Adesanya