Vows to Clear All Liabilities Before Leaving Office
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has approved ₦8 billion for the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities owed to retired primary school teachers and civil servants.
The funds are expected to cover liabilities accrued between 2019 and 2021, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor, Abdurrahman Bundi.
Zulum announced the approval during a meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Government House in Maiduguri.
In the statement, it was noted that the governor had previously released ₦3 billion in June and September 2019 to clear gratuities for 1,684 retirees who left the civil service between 2013 and 2019. In 2020, an additional ₦12 billion was disbursed to settle gratuities for retirees from both the state and local governments who exited service between 2013 and 2017.
“Since I assumed office in 2019, we have paid about ₦25 billion to settle gratuities for retirees from local and state governments,” Zulum stated.
The governor further assured that his administration remains committed to addressing all outstanding liabilities. “Insha’Allah, I will clear all the backlog of gratuities and pensions before I leave office in 2027,” he pledged.