By Adedapo Adesanya
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has approved the payment of a 28-year backlog of gratuity for pensioners in the Edo State Local Government Staff Pension Board.
This was made known by the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and Permanent Secretary for the Local Government Staff Pension Board, Mrs Sandra Osas-Ehigie, in a statement on Tuesday.
Gratuity is a payment made by an employer to an employee for the services rendered during the period of employment, above and beyond the usual wages or salary. It is usually a percentage of the employee’s total wages or salary for the entire period of service. The amount of gratuity payable is usually specified in an employment contract or company policy.
Mrs Osas-Ehigie said a screening exercise will be held for the payment of pensioners on the payroll of the Local Government Staff Pension Board between 1979 and 2008.
“This is to inform Pensioners on the payroll of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, who retired between 1979 and 2008 that His Excellency, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has graciously released funds for their gratuity and that screening exercise will be carried out in the Local Government Staff Pensions Board Premises, King Square, Benin City.
“All confirmed Pensioners are to physically present themselves at the venue with their pension identity card, biometrics slip and pay advice between Monday 16th and Friday 20th October 2023, from 8.00am – 4.00pm daily,” Mrs Osas-Ehigie added.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
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