From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Civil servants who are due to retire from Benue Civil service would be paid their gratuity, one week after their retirement.
Governor Hyacinth Alia made this promise on Thursday while speaking with newsmen in Makurdi.
The Governor, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary Tersoo Kula also, said their pensions will begin to run, three months after retirement.
Kula said since the Governor has regularized the payment of salaries, he would soon commence the payment of backlog of other emoluments owed workers and retirees in the state.
The CPS argued that it was only when workers were fully motivated that there would be rise in productivity level, pointed out that as the Alia administration plans to change the fortunes of Benue, it would start with the civil service which have the capacity to frustrate government’s polices and programmes.
He also said as part of reforms to motivate Civil servants in Benue state and position them for optimum performance, the Governor has connected Government house, Makurdi and the Benue State Secretariat, Makurdi to the 330 KVA source of power supply.
He added that as plans to motivate workers to perform optimally, the Governor has also directed that the state secretariat be automated to check such vices as absentism from duty.
Said he, “For the first time, 330 KVA has been extended to Government house, Makurdi and now we have electricity in Government House for at least 18 hours daily, before you think of alternative source of power.
“Also those of you that have been here for a while know that electricity has been an issue in the Benue State secretariat and His Excellency has also extended 330 KVA to the secretariat.
“He did this because he has noticed that civil servants were not motivated and it’s only when the workforce is motivated that there is rise in productivity level.
“For instance, if you are in an office and there is heat, how can you be motivated to work? But, go to the secretariat now and you will see these civil servants enjoying air conditioners.
“If you motivate people, you motivate them to give you optimum performance. So we intend to check laxity, truancy and in checking truancy,the Governor has already directed that all offices in the secretariat be automated.
“ Therefore, every civil servant will have his or her own card and the moment they swipe the card, it will register the time they came to work.
“Also you know that salaries has been regularized and are paid on or before 25th of every month. So tell me why they (civil servants) will not be motivated?
“In his (Governor’s) bid to check the issue of inadequate office accommodation, he has awarded the contract for the completion of the structure that is close to the Ministry of Health and Human Services.
“So, if this people have electricity; their welfare packages are not tampered with; they have enough office accommodation. Tell me why they will not be motivated to do more?”, he asked rhetorically.
On other welfare packages to motivate workers to put in their best, the CPS noted that “the Governor has also insisted that Civil servants in the state must be retrained at least once in a year. He also insisted that promotion must be constant, but must be on merit, so every civil servant that is worth promoting should be one that wrote and passed his or her exams.”
According to him, “People who have less than one year to retire are now begging to retire, because pension is regular. Whoever retires from service from the 29th of May, 2023, that we took over, his or her gratuity will be paid in full.
“So going forward, once you retire your gratuity will be paid in full and three months after you will begin to collect your pension. His Excellency has implemented that and we are going with it. You can verify that. So people are not afraid to retire now.
“What is now left is the arrears of the backlog of gratuity and pensions that were on ground before we came. But we will gradually clear the backlog and this issue of bringing my father for capturing will be a thing of the past.
“You are captured at this point and that is why you have to help us tell those who are yet to submit their Pension Identification Number (PIN) to do so without fail and as early as possible, because as soon as you retire you will collect your gratuity, the next week. Then your pension will begin to run, three months after.
“We are going to change the fortunes of this state, but we are starting with the workforce, because it is the workforce that has the capacity to frustrate your efforts.
“However, civil servants and pensioners should be patient. They should avoid the situation where people are pushing them to ask for their arrears.
“We came and we met no Kobo. By the end of this month, we will be five months in office. Let them be patient about the backlog. It’s not easy, but we are doing everything possible to raise money and attend to that.
“As time goes on, we will gradually clear the backlog, until we clear the whole of the arrears owed workers and pensioners.”
