Story Written By Aliyu Lawal, Edited by Godwin Duru
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has flagged off the payment of gratuities to the first batch of three hundred and thirty five retirees in the state.
In a statement in Minna, the state capital the Special Adviser to the Governor on Print Media , Aisha Wakaso. said the Governor presented the cheques to the retirees who had served the state diligently with a call on them to ensure judicious utilisation of their benefit.
Represented by his Deputy Comrade Yakubu Garba, the Governor reaffirmed the determination of his administration in addressing all issues affecting pensioners at the state and local government levels.
He said this necessitated the approval and subsequent release of twenty five billion naira to clear all outstanding entitlements.
“The release of such a large sum for the payment of these gratuities is a testament to the administration’s commitment to the welfare of the state’s retired civil servants”.
It could be recalled that some pensioners in the state had not been paid for over thirteen years due to the pension scheme laws that were changed, leading to a backlog and substantial financial burden on the government.
The Governor also warned against any attempt to tamper with the serial numbers and files of the beneficiaries, stating that anyone caught doing so will be dealt with decisively.
The payment process will continue in batches, with the retirees from the local government areas set to receive their cheques starting from July.
PR /ALIYU LAWAL
