Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has accused his predecessor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, of failing to prioritize the payment of gratuities and death benefits to state retirees in his eight-year tenure.
He stated that the administration’s neglect of these pensioners left the State Pension Fund Trustees with a cumulative outstanding of over N48 billion.
Yusuf disclosed this during the official launch of the 3rd tranche of N5 billion payment of backlog of gratuities and death benefits of retirees at the Government House.
In a statement released by Governor’s Spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa on Friday, Yusuf sympathized with the pensioners, who he said had passed through difficult times and untold hardships during the Ganduje-led administration.
He claimed that hundreds of these retirees had lost their lives while waiting endlessly for their entitlements.
” The perennial neglect of Ganduje’s administration to settle pensioners entitlements in the last eight years of his government has subjected pensioners to hardship in Kano.”
“This is the biggest social security threat ever witnessed since the creation of Kano state in 1967. Many have lost their lives while waiting endlessly for their gratuities, “Yusuf said.
He explained that the release of a cumulative sum of N16 billion in gratuities to about 6,886 retirees in three tranches was part of his campaign promise to ease the pain of senior citizens who had contributed immensely to public service while on active service.
According to him, payment of backlog gratuities to the lawful beneficiaries is not only an obligation but a moral right of every leader. He assured the retirees of transparent processes for the payment, which they would receive through an electronic system from the government Treasury.
Yusuf stated that N846 million in death benefits were yet to be claimed in the state while directing the State Head of Service, the Sharia Commission, and Pension Fund Trustees to intensify search and identify relatives of the deceased pensioners for their payment.
“Out of over N48 billion inherited, we commenced settlement process with N6 billion being the 1st tranche to 2,2667 retirees. A few months later, we released the second tranche of N5 billion to 2,216 pensioners. Today, I am overwhelmed with joy to witness the launch of the 3rd trench of N5 billion for 2,000 beneficiaries.
“We are not paying the pensioners in cash because we don’t have confidence in the cash payment, and we would not allow the irregularities that characterised the past administration to reoccur. You will all be paid through bank accounts directly to your account”, he added
Yusuf, in addition, announced an upward review of the minimum pensioner award from N5, 000 to N20, 000 to reflect the impact of inflation and its resultant implications on the purchasing power of the people.
Earlier, the President, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Titus Audu Amba, lauded the commitment of the Kano state government to reduce the overwhelming burden of pension gratuities in Kano.
He challenged Nigerian governors to imbibe the rare gesture of Governor Yusuf on pensioners’ entitlements, while insisting that the impact of the N16 billion would not only change the lives of the immediate beneficiaries but improve the macro-economic system of the state.
