…₦3.1 Billion Paid to Local Government Retirees, ₦2.1 Billion to State Pensioners
…Committee Assures Retirees Who Missed Previous Exercises That Their Entitlements Remain Secure
By Abdulwahab Muhammad, SSA Communication to the Governor of Bauchi State
The Bauchi State Government has announced the disbursement of ₦5.2 billion in outstanding gratuities to retired civil servants across the state and local government services, marking another significant step in its ongoing efforts to address accumulated retirement benefits and provide financial relief to pensioners.
The latest development comes as the government prepares to commence payments to retirees who left service in 2015, while assuring beneficiaries from previous payment batches that their outstanding entitlements remain available for collection.
Speaking during a press briefing at Government House, Bauchi, the Chairman of the State Gratuity Payment Committee, Mr. Kola Oyediren, disclosed that ₦3.1 billion had so far been disbursed to local government retirees, while their counterparts in the state civil service had received ₦2.1 billion.
He explained that the payments, made over the past three weeks, formed part of the administration’s continuing efforts to reduce the backlog of unpaid gratuities inherited from previous years.
According to him, the total amount disbursed is expected to increase as the committee continues verification and payment processes for eligible beneficiaries.
Mr. Oyediren announced that the committee was moving into the 2015 payment phase, with arrangements being coordinated through pension desk officers across the state and local government services to ensure that affected retirees receive the necessary information.
He urged beneficiaries to cooperate with the verification teams and provide the required documentation to facilitate the timely processing of their entitlements.
The committee chairman also appealed to retirees who left service in 2012, 2013 and 2014 but were unable to participate in earlier payment exercises to come forward for verification.
He stressed that missing an earlier exercise did not automatically disqualify eligible retirees from receiving their gratuities, assuring them that funds earmarked for their payments remained available.
Providing further details, the committee disclosed that 442 out of 583 expected state government retirees participated in the 2014 exercise, while 670 out of 769 eligible local government retirees presented themselves for verification and payment.
The figures indicate that some beneficiaries are yet to complete the necessary procedures, prompting renewed calls for affected retirees to contact the appropriate pension authorities.
Also speaking, the leader of the Local Government Gratuity Payment Committee, Muhammad Kabir Sizway, described the exercise as largely successful despite administrative challenges encountered in tracing the records of a small number of retirees.
He explained that efforts were underway, in collaboration with relevant officials, to locate missing files and resolve documentation issues affecting some beneficiaries.
Kabir assured retirees that the committee remained committed to ensuring that every verified and eligible beneficiary received the gratuity due to them.
He particularly encouraged retirees who missed previous payment exercises to take advantage of the ongoing arrangements rather than assume that their opportunities had expired.
The Executive Secretary of the Bauchi State Contributory Pension Commission, Ibrahim Inuwa, also emphasised the importance of effective communication between retirees and pension desk officers to ensure a smooth and transparent payment process.
The committee indicated that the 2015 payment exercise was expected to last seven days, subject to possible extension where necessary, before preparations commenced for the next batch of retirees who left service in 2016.
The development represents a significant financial intervention for retired public servants, many of whom have awaited settlement of their gratuities for years.
Beyond the immediate financial relief to beneficiaries and their families, the disbursement underscores the importance of sustained funding, proper documentation and administrative coordination in addressing longstanding pension obligations.
For the administration of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the ongoing payments form part of its efforts to improve the welfare of retired public servants and progressively settle outstanding gratuity liabilities.
As the exercise advances towards the 2016 retirement batch, attention will remain focused on the government’s ability to sustain the payment process, resolve outstanding verification challenges and ensure that eligible pensioners receive their benefits without unnecessary delays.
Published by Alphapressmedia.com
