By Mike Oboh
Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar has revealed that his administration disbursed the sum of over N63 billion as monthly pension to the teeming pensioners in the State.
According to the Governor, the sum of N12.5 billion was equally paid as retiring benefits covering retirement gratuity, death benefit and pension arrears in favour of 7,550 beneficiaries.
Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje stated this today Saturday during the commissioning ceremony of the new Permanent Secretariat of Nigerian Union of Pensioners Kano State and the 19 Northern States regular Forum Meeting held at Sheik Nasiru Kabara City, NUP Office Complex.
Ganduje presented by his Deputy Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said the present administration had never failed in the payment of monthly pension to the respected Senior Citizens of the State.
” Plans are underway to settle backlog of unpaid retiring benefits to our retirees as government had formed a Technical Committee on pension to tackle problems that bedeviled the operation of Kano State Pension Fund Trustees ” said Ganduje.
He announced that Kano State Government had found it worthy to donate the magnificent building to ease operation of the Union in the State in which the sum of N40 million was expanded for its completion and provision of furniture, working equipment and other luxuries.
On the regular NUP forum meeting of the 19 Northern State, Dr. Ganduje maintained that the choice of Kano as the venue was a clear attestation of harmonious relationship that exists between the Senior Citizens and Kano State Government.
” I would like to use this August gathering to appreciate the humility and understanding of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Kano State Branch for their patient regarding delay in the payment of retiring benefit. I assured you that Insha Allah it will soon over ” he stated.
In his remaks, the National Presedent Nigeria Union of Pensioners Dr. Abel Afolayan had commended the effort of Kano State Government in tackling the problems of Pensioners in the State, stressing that posterity would forever judge the Governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Dr. Abel therefore appealed to the Governor to take pensioners in to confidence and appoint the qualified ones among them in to his cabinet to enable them bring their contributions.
In his speech, the State Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir appreciated the outstanding effort of Kano State Government for what he described as having workers and pensioners at heart.
” we are aware of all the efforts made by your administration since your first tanure in office to address this lingering issue which you inherited from the previous administration ranging from non-remittance of 17% and 18% Government and Workers contributions as provided by the 2006 Kano Pension gratuity law ” he stated.
Earlier, the Chairman Nigeria Union of Pensioners Kano State Branch Comrade Salisu Ahmed Gwale appreciated the good foresight of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for setting up two committees to look in to the problems of Pension and Gratuity in the State.
