Bauchi begins payment of gratuity backlog, releases N10bn - Punch Newspapers

Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau during symbolic handover of cheque.. Photo Credit: Umar Sani.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has directed the commencement of payment of outstanding gratuity to retired civil servants from 2012 to 2016. The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, announced this during the symbolic handover of the cheque on Wednesday. He said the exercise would commence with the first batch of beneficiaries, while subsequent payments would be made until all eligible retirees had received their entitlements. Mohammed said the state government had committed N10bn towards addressing the accumulated gratuity obligations owed to retirees. He explained that validated historical records showed that the total outstanding obligations for the period amounted to N11.71bn, comprising liabilities owed to state and local government retirees. According to him, the state component involves 3,570 beneficiaries with obligations amounting to N6.13bn, while the local government component covers 2,262 beneficiaries with outstanding obligations of N5.58bn.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google The governor said the payment would be implemented progressively based on the chronology of outstanding obligations, completeness of supporting records, validation and reconciliation processes, as well as the resources approved for each phase. He said, “No eligible pensioner should interpret this first phase as an exclusion. We are beginning from defined historical brackets so that government can process systematically and transparently. “We are starting here, but we are not stopping here. The validated historical records before government cover the accumulated obligations.” Mohammed noted that many retired workers had waited for more than a decade to receive their gratuity, describing the backlog as one of the most challenging issues inherited by his administration. Gratuity: Pensioners’ forum alleges payment shortfall NCDC reports 1,086 Lassa fever cases, 259 deaths 2027: Yari warns North against demanding presidency He said, “Today, we say to you, your wait is finally coming to an end. Acknowledging the plight of our senior citizens, when we talk about monthly living, there should be dignity. “It is a systemic injustice when, after finishing years of service, you are unable to receive your hard-earned entitlement. Sadly, we have lost some of our colleagues along the way without them tasting the fruit of their labour.” The governor said the government recognised the contributions of retirees who spent decades building the state’s infrastructure, schools, healthcare system and administrative machinery. He added that the government had established the Bauchi State Contributory Pension Scheme to strengthen the management of pension-related matters, including data validation, verification and reconciliation. Mohammed directed the relevant committee and officials overseeing the exercise to ensure transparency, speed and fairness in the disbursement. He said there should be no bureaucratic bottlenecks during the verification process and directed that senior citizens should be given priority and treated with dignity. The governor said the payment was not merely a financial intervention but a demonstration of the government’s commitment to addressing inherited obligations and improving the welfare of retirees. He urged beneficiaries to provide the necessary documentation, cooperate with the verification process and use the payments prudently to support themselves and their families. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Sulaiman, said the legislature unanimously approved the release of funds for the payment of the outstanding gratuity. Umar Sani

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