An Enugu State pensioner, Nze EC Aneke, has expressed overwhelming joy and gratitude to Governor Peter Mbah after receiving his retirement gratuity, 19 years after leaving the local government service.
Aneke, who retired as a Head of Personnel Management (HPM) in June 2007, said he had waited for nearly two decades without receiving his gratuity despite successive administrations coming and going.
In a video expressing his appreciation to the governor, the retiree from Amokwe in Udi Local Government Area said he initially doubted Mbah’s promise to clear outstanding gratuity arrears, having witnessed similar promises by previous governors.
However, he said his doubts turned into excitement on Monday, November 2, 2026, when he received a bank alert confirming payment of his long-awaited gratuity.
“I retired as HPM in local government in the year 2007, June. And since then, I have not been paid my gratuity. Many governors have come and gone. But now we have this our efficient and, in fact, human Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,” he said.
Recounting the moment he discovered that the payment had finally arrived, Aneke said he initially thought the alert was for his October monthly pension.
“Recently, he promised that we will be paid our arrears of gratuity. I was thinking, personally, anyway, I was thinking that it was just like previous governors who have been promising and failing. But suddenly, unexpectedly, yesterday, 2nd of November, I got an alert from my bank.
“I was wondering; I was thinking it was our monthly pension—October pension. But behold, it was arrears of my gratuity. 19 years plus. In fact, I couldn’t believe it. But it was real; it was true,” he recounted.
Overwhelmed by the development, the retiree praised Mbah for fulfilling the promise, declaring that the governor had achieved what his predecessors failed to do.
“So I want to express my joy and happiness to His Excellency for showing us that ‘Our Tomorrow Is Here’, our tomorrow is now. May God bless him. He has done what his predecessors failed to do,” Aneke said.
He expressed confidence that other retired local government workers who had received their outstanding entitlements were equally celebrating the development in their homes.
“And I believe that all other retired pensioners, local government pensioners like me, they are happy in their respective homes. May God bless our governor, extend his life, and extend his tenure in office,” he added.
Aneke, who could barely contain his excitement, went further to express support for Mbah’s continued leadership, saying he wished the governor would remain in office until May 2031.
“In fact, I would say that he should relax; that his tenure in office is extended to May 2031 by Enugu State—all indigenes, particularly my friends and colleagues, retired pensioners, retired local government staff,” he said.
Describing the payment as a moment he had long waited for, Aneke said he wished to meet the governor personally to express his appreciation.
“To God be the glory. I am happy for him. I wish I could see him face-to-face and shake him. In fact, I lack words to express my happiness.
“Thank you very much, and may God bless you, Your Excellency. Praise the living God!” he exclaimed.
