Gombe gov disburses N8.2bn gratuities to 3,204 retirees

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Tuesday flagged off the disbursement of N8.2 billion as gratuity payments to 3,204 retirees from both state and local government services. Speaking during the flag-off at the Government House, Governor Yahaya said it was a continuation of his government’s pledge to clear all outstanding gratuities by 2027, ensuring […]

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Tuesday flagged off the disbursement of N8.2 billion as gratuity payments to 3,204 retirees from both state and local government services.

Speaking during the flag-off at the Government House, Governor Yahaya said it was a continuation of his government’s pledge to clear all outstanding gratuities by 2027, ensuring that no retiree is left behind.

“During the last payment exercise in July this year, we made a firm pledge to achieve zero gratuity backlog by 2027. Today’s event is another bold step toward that vision,” he stated.

The governor revealed that the government committed N8.2 billion for the payment of accumulated gratuities to state and local government retirees, including N6.6 billion specifically earmarked for state retirees spanning across 2021, 2022 and 2023, covering a total of 3,204 beneficiaries.

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Daily Trust reports that the payments also covered a one-year disbursement of outstanding gratuities for 162 local government retirees across the 11 local government councils of the state.

Governor Yahaya explained that the next payment phase would cover state retirees for 2024 and 2025, adding that his administration had mapped out a schedule to ensure complete clearance before the end of his tenure in 2027.

“By next year, we will clear the gratuities of 2024 and 2025 retirees, and by the first quarter of 2027, every retiree in Gombe State would have been fully paid. No one will be left waiting for their entitlements,” he assured.

Governor Yahaya further outlined that under the state’s phased payment plan, local governments such as Funakaye, Kwami, and Nafada will clear their backlogs in the 2024 financial year, while Akko, Billiri, and Shongom will settle outstanding payments for 2018, and Dukku and Balanga for 2017, with Gombe, Kaltungo, and Yamaltu Deba clearing for 2016.

He also disclosed that since assuming office in 2019, his administration had paid a total of N33.826 billion in gratuities and pension-related liabilities.

“With today’s disbursement, our cumulative gratuity payment has reached a historic N33.826 billion, a record unmatched in the annals of Gombe State. No administration has shown greater compassion or commitment to the welfare of our retirees,” he declared.

Earlier, the State Auditor-General and Chairman of the Gratuity Payment Committee, Mohammad Buba Gombe, disclosed that the current disbursement amounts to N8.171 billion.

H3 added that the consistent clearance of gratuity arrears reflects fiscal discipline, financial prudence and a genuine concern for the welfare of retired workers.