Zamfara Clears ₦13.6 Billion 14 Years Gratuity Debt to Retirees Since 2011

The Zamfara State Government has cleared the backlog of gratuity payments amounting to ₦13.6 billion owed to retirees since 2011.

The announcement was made on Monday, signaling the conclusion of a phased payment process that began in early 2024.

Governor Dauda Lawal, who assumed office in 2023, inherited the debt from previous administrations and pledged to settle the liabilities as part of his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of senior citizens.

The backlog, which spanned over a decade, had affected thousands of retired workers from the state and local government services.

In a statement from the governor’s office, Lawal said the payment was not only a financial obligation but a moral duty to those who had served the state diligently.

“This payment represents a fulfillment of our promise to restore the dignity of our retirees. They deserved better, and today we have done what is right,” the statement read.

The disbursement process began after the government set up a verification committee to authenticate the records of eligible retirees. By June 2024, more than ₦5 billion had been paid to over 4,000 verified beneficiaries. Additional payments continued throughout the year, reaching approximately ₦9.4 billion by October 2024.

The final tranche, amounting to over ₦4 billion, was paid by mid-2025.

Retirees across the state have expressed relief and gratitude, with many noting that the payment came after years of neglect and hardship.

Some pensioners who spoke to reporters said they had given up hope of receiving their gratuities.

“I never thought this day would come,” said Ibrahim Ali, a retired civil servant. “After waiting for more than a decade, this payment means everything to me and my family.”

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Zamfara also commended the government, describing the gesture as a life-saving intervention.

The union urged the state to put mechanisms in place to prevent future accumulation of pension arrears.

The clearance of the ₦13.6 billion gratuity debt is part of a broader effort by the Lawal administration to reform public service and ensure accountability in the management of state resources.

The government has pledged to make prompt retirement benefit payments a standard going forward.