Ayade Begins Paying Local Gov’t Retirees Gratuities As Potholes Re-Appear On Repaired Calabar- Akpabuyo Road

By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent

Unconfirmed Information reaching CrossRiverWatch suggests that the Cross River State Government has begun paying gratuities to retirees of the state’s unified local government system and primary school teachers.

Sources in government house, Calabar reveal that the payment which began in May, 2016 has seen around 500 retirees receive their gratuities in what the source said will be a continuous process.

Also, a bulk message emanating from an aide to the governor on social media, Emmanuel Ulayi sent on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at about 9:30 PM with the sender Identity “CSG” read; “Gov Ayade pays over 500 pensioners their Gratuities in CRS [Rtd LGA staff/Primary school teachers] Pension board boss, Dr. Peter Adigeb disclose.”

But, as at press time, CrossRiverWatch was yet to get comments from the chairman of the pension’s board, Peter Adigeb.

The governor, Benedict Ayade has in the past year, received praises and criticism for his continuous payment of salaries to state civil servants which since December 2015, has become irregular following his pronouncement last year that salaries will be paid on the 25th of every month.

However, he has not been able to replicate this at the local government level and to retirees as sources in government say those who retired since 2014 were yet to receive their gratuities while pensions have not been paid for a long time too.

The governor who has been out of the country almost a month now is rumoured to be back in the country and currently residing in Abuja the nation’s capital.

Meanwhile, in another development potholes have begun reappearing in the Calabar – Akpabuyo road which was recently rehabilitated by the state government. Though minor, but due to the pressure by heavy duty trucks which ply the route in huge numbers daily and the lack of a drainage system, our reporter says the road may yet again collapse in the near future.

However, motorists plying the route who spoke with CrossRiverWatch could not hide their joy over the rehabilitation of the road.