Bayelsa gratuity backlog cleared as Governor Douye Diri pays N12bn to retirees, earning praise from workers’ unions for local government reforms.
Bayelsa gratuity backlog cleared after Governor Douye Diri paid N12 billion owed to retired staff from eight local government councils, earning commendations from workers’ unions.
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The symbolic presentation of cheques took place on Thursday in Yenagoa, where over 1,000 retirees received payments, signalling the governor’s commitment to the welfare of council workers.
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) honoured Diri as the Best Governor on Local Government Reforms in Nigeria during a conference themed “Promoting Local Government Workers’ Welfare: The Bayelsa Model.” NULGE President, Comrade Aliyu Kankara, praised the governor’s fiscal reforms that repositioned the local government system for improved service delivery and regular staff benefits.
Kankara highlighted key achievements such as implementing an N80,000 minimum wage for council workers, salary increases of 25 to 30 per cent, and state support for primary school teachers’ salaries. “Governor Diri has excelled where many others failed by prioritising grassroots workers’ welfare,” he said.
Dr Kabir Sani, National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, also expressed gratitude for Diri’s efforts to improve local government workers’ conditions.
Governor Diri himself remarked that paying salaries and clearing gratuity arrears was part of the mandate he was elected to fulfil. “The moment you retire, you are entitled to your gratuity. This should not be celebrated as something extraordinary,” he said.
Addressing critics who questioned his immediate clearance of the backlog—dating back to 2007—Diri recalled his personal motivation: “My father was a headmaster who might have died without pensions and gratuity if not for opportunities given to people like me.”
Since assuming office in 2020, his administration has paid over N20 billion in gratuity arrears, a feat achieved despite initial scepticism.
The governor also acknowledged his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for overseeing the reforms and ensuring their smooth implementation across the councils.
Chief Thompson Amule, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, noted that before the Diri administration, most councils were insolvent with months of unpaid salaries and benefits.
Thanks to fiscal reforms, the councils now enjoy financial stability and resumed workers’ promotions.
Local government chairman Mr Lelei Tariye confirmed the system’s improved functionality, praising the administration for upholding council autonomy.
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The event’s highlight was the symbolic distribution of N12 billion in cheques to over 1,000 retirees across Bayelsa’s eight local government areas, marking a milestone in workers’ welfare.
