Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago of Niger State,has officially flagged off the payment of gratuities to the first batch of 335 retirees in the state.
The flag-off took place at the premises of the Niger State Pension Board in Minna on Thursday,25/7/24.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, presented the cheques to the retirees who had served the state diligently.
Bago stressed that state government in its determination to address all issues affecting pensioners at the state and local government levels has been approved and released the sum of N25 billion to clear all outstanding entitlements.
The release of such a large sum for the payment of these gratuities is a testament to the administration’s commitment to the welfare of the state’s retired civil servants.
Recalled that some pensioners in the state had not been paid for over 13 years due to the pension scheme laws that were changed leading to a backlog and a substantial financial burden on the government,hence, the current administration will ensure timely pension payments to prevent such a backlog in the future, and to alleviate the hardships faced by retirees and their families in the past.
The Governor has also warned against any attempts to tamper with the serial numbers and files of the beneficiaries, stating that anyone caught doing so will be dealt with decisively.
The payment process will continue in batches, with the retirees from the local government areas set to receive their cheques starting from July 26th.
This move underscores the Bago administration’s commitment to prioritizing the well-being of pensioners in Niger State.
