By
Ya’u Waziri
Governor Inuwa Yahaya, has flagged off the payment of 10.32 billion naira in gratuities to 6,665 state and local government retirees.
The beneficiaries comprise 2,354 state and 4,311 local government retirees.
Speaking at the ceremony in Gombe, Governor Inuwa Yahaya said the latest intervention brings the total gratuity payments by his administration since 2019 to 44.134 billion naira.
He said his administration inherited over 21 billion naira in outstanding gratuity liabilities when it assumed office in 2019, but remained committed to clearing the backlog despite various economic challenges.
The Governor said 6.24 billion naira of the latest payment is for state retirees, while 4.08 billion naira is for retirees from the eleven local government councils.
He explained that the latest payment has effectively cleared state government gratuity obligations up to December 2025, while gratuities accruing from January 2026 would be settled early next year.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya assured the retirees that he would leave office without gratuity arrears, God willing.
He also announced plans to establish a sustainable mechanism for meeting future gratuity obligations, including consideration of a contributory pension arrangement or deductions from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
The Governor further highlighted other measures to improve workers’ welfare, including implementation of the new minimum wage, CONMESS and CONHESS, prompt payment of salaries and pensions, as well as recruitment of teachers and health workers.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Aish Bello, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Muhammad Hassan Kwami, commended the government for its sustained attention to workers and retirees.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Abdulkadir Adamu Kawu and Zainab Ishiyaku Adamu expressed appreciation to the state government, saying the payment would enable them to enjoy the fruits of their years of service.
