Gov Yusuf flags off payment of N6bn gratuity to over 5000 pensioners

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf has flagged off payment of N6bn gratuity and death benefits of over 5000 pensioners in the state.

The official flag-off ceremony was held at the Coronation Hall, Kano Government House on Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf restated the commitment of his administration in settling all the backlog of gratuities to pensioners as well as enhancing the welfare of civil servants in the state.

He said his administration inherited a huge liabilities of pension gratuities of retirees, saying many of retirees have passed away without receiving their entitlements.

“As you are aware the eight years of the last administration witnessed neglect of so many sectors which include deductions of monthly pension illegally. We have made a promise during the campaign that we will pay pension gratuities and also curtail monthly pension deductions if given the mandate. Today, Alhamdulillah we are fulfilling our promise despite the competing demands.”

The governor noted that the payment would continue, stressing that the backlog of over N48bn pension and gratuities would be settled in the nearest future, urging the beneficiaries to make judicious utilisation of the benefits for a brighter future.

Also speaking, the National President, NUP, Comrade Godwin Abumisi represented by the National Trustee, Comrade Abdullahi Tsoho Garba said, “the settlement of unpaid gratuities and death benefits at a time when his other colleagues are grappling with take-up issues, speaks volumes of Your Excellency’s capacity to like never before, provide dividends of democracy to the people of Kano State. This gesture is a clear manifestation of your workers and pensioner-friendly posture.

“By our records, Kano State is among states with high accumulation of unpaid retirement benefits to the tune of forty three billion Naira from 2016 to date.
“However, with the earmarking of N6bn just for a start, it is a clear indication that in no distance future, Kano under Abba Gida Gida will soon join the league of states with little or no gratuity liability like Kaduna, Jigawa, Ondo and others.”

In their separate remarks, the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and former Deputy Governor Hafiz Abubakar, urged the pensioners not to allow their ‘illegal’ deductions of benefits by the previous administration to go free.
They therefore called on them to report their case to the anti-corruption agencies available.