By Dauda R Pam Maiduguri.
Borno state Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, on Tuesday announced the release of N12 billion to clear gratuities owed 4,862 retirees who retired from the state and local government civil service between 2013 and 2017.
Zulum had earlier released the sum of N3 billion in June and September 2019, to clear gratuities of 1,684 retirees who left the civil service between 2013 to 2019, at lower ranks, mostly clerks, drivers and messengers.
Governor Babagana UMARA Zulum flagged-off the payment of gratuities with a symbolic presentation of cheques to some retirees on Tuesday at the government house multipurpose hall in Maiduguri and that the funds were obtained through a loan provided by the Zenith Bank.
The Governor noted that while N12 billion was not enough to settle backlog of gratuities, appreciable number of retirees almost 5,000 will be cleared this time around and appealed to those who will not be part of the N12b batch to be patient as Government is working hard to settle all gratuities as soon as possible.
“The accumulated backlog of gratuities over the years has been worrisome to successive administrations. We are making frantic effort to settle all outstanding gratuities and pension arrears of our retired Civil servants. We decided to take far reaching decision to reduce the waiting period by retired state and local civil servants in the State. and hope that this N12b will reduce poverty and stimulate the economy” Zulum said.
On pension, the Governor explained that from May 2019 to date, a total of 770 complaints were received out of which 650 were rectified and already enjoying their pension while awaiting their arrears to be paid soon.
The state government,he reiterated that has
recently completed the rehabilitation of Musa Usman Secretariat, including provision of furnitures and assured of his administration’s commitment to sustain the payment of retirement benefits to pensioners as at when due.
The governor announced that Government has commenced the automatic migration of retirees from salary to pension since May, 2020 and so far over 900 retirees have benefited fr
om the process.
It could be recalled that payment of gratuities have so far been particularly problematic across Nigeria given the fact that, gratuities are lump sum of money which employers are lawfully required yo give retirees as reward for many years of service.
The amount comes in millions for each retiree to use in investment after many years of work.
Retirees, he said, are entitled to a one-off payment of gratuities and monthly pensions which are generated from contributions made by employees and employers during working years. Monthly pensions are normally less of the salaried workers were paid during their working years.
