The Yobe State Government has paid more than ₦6 billion in pension and gratuity to 4,271 local government retirees and next-of-kin of deceased employees.

Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje disclosed this while receiving members of the Committee on Local Government Staff Pension and Gratuity Payment.

The committee briefed Goje on progress made since its reconstitution by Governor Mai Mala Buni in July 2022. It was set up to verify local government retirees and the next-of-kin of deceased staff and to facilitate the processing and payment of their legitimate entitlements.

According to the committee, its verification, screening and processing work has so far resulted in the payment of over ₦6 billion to 4,271 beneficiaries. These include living retirees and the next-of-kin of deceased local government workers.

Goje praised Governor Buni for prioritising the welfare of retirees and the families of deceased employees.

He described the payments as an important step in meeting the government’s obligations to people who spent their productive years in public service. He also commended the committee for its diligence and adherence to due process.

The committee said the exercise was conducted with transparency and fairness to ensure that only genuine claimants received their entitlements. Goje urged the members to continue the same standard of work and assured them of the government’s ongoing commitment to clearing outstanding pension and gratuity obligations.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper