Kano begins payment of gratuities to pensioners

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State on Saturday flagged off the first tranche of settlement of death benefits to the families of deceased civil servants and gratuity of pensioners.

No fewer than 6,000 beneficiaries who retired from the civil service and the families of deceased workers between 2016 and 2019 are expected to benefit from the N6bn earmarked for the payment in the first batch.

Speaking at the occasion, held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Governor Yusuf said the payment was possible despite meagre resources, inherited empty treasury and competing developmental projects, adding that the government had blocked leakages of public funds siphoning for the execution of more viable projects for people of the state.

He said his administration was highly concerned with the plight of pensioners especially those at the lower level as they are the end recipients of the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.

“To ensure the continuation of the settlement of the pension backlogs, N10bn was proposed in the state next year’s budget for more inclusion of gratuity and death benefits of bereaved families of deceased’s civil servants to enjoy their legitimate entitlements,” he said.

He called on the beneficiaries to make judicious use of what they collected and invest wisely in lawful businesses for more income to cater to their day-to-day needs and other necessities of life.

Speaking, the deputy governor and the Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo appreciated the selection of beneficiaries with not more than N3m at the state level, N1.5m at local government levels all within Grade Level 1-6.

The Executive Chairman of the State Pension Trustees Fund, Alhaji Habu Muhammad Fagge said the commencement of the payment was a clear indication of Governor Yusuf’s zeal to better the lives of pensioners and provide succour to the families of deceased civil servants.

Meanwhile, the immediate past administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje left a liability of over N43bn outstanding pensions, gratuities and death benefits, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.

The Kano State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Salisu Gwale, disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday.

“Retirees in Kano State currently owe the state government retirement benefits to the tune of over N43bn,” the NUP chairman said.

He, however, disclosed that the present administration under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf had set aside N6bn out of the N43bn for the payment of the outstanding pensions, gratuities and death benefits to about 5,500 beneficiaries.

According to him, the state government had concluded all the necessary arrangements for the flag off of the payment on Saturday.

“The state government has completed necessary arrangements to commence payment of the outstanding entitlement as no fewer than 500 beneficiaries will get their own during the flag-off at the Government House on Saturday,” he said.

He lamented that payment of monthly pensions to retirees in the state is not being implemented 100 per cent due to the refusal of many agencies to remit what they deducted from the workers’ salaries in the state.

“Even though the state government is paying a monthly pension, the payment is not 100 percent due to the refusal of MDAs to remit the deductions.

“Payment of monthly pension and gratuities to pensioners is a right, not a privilege because prompt payment will alleviate the sufferings of our families,” Gwale said.