By Stephen Ojo
The Niger state Pension Board says the State government has set aside the sum of three billion Naira (N3 billion) which it used to pay 1566 retirees from the State civil service and Local Government Councils their gratuities.
The Director General of the Board, Alhaji Nasiru Saidu Namaska stated this Thursday in Minna in an interview with journalists.
He explained that payment of gratuity has been in batches, adding that, “at the state level, 988 pensioners in four batches have been paid their gratuity. It is important to explain that N500m is allocated to each batch, therefore payment for the four batches amounts to N2 billion. In the same vain, 578 retirees from the local government areas in two batches have gotten their gratuity amounting to N1 billion “.
Namaska explained that the state Governor Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago is committed to ensuring the welfare of retirees in the state asva result of which he earmarked N25 billion to pay gratuity to pensioners at the state and local government areas.
He advised retirees to exercise patience while the gratuity payment progresses, assuring that all verified pensioners will be paid but on first come, first out basis in accordance with the directives of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
According to the Director General, ” the introduction of internal control mechanism has been very effective in eradicating the menace of fraudulent behaviour by staff including the problems missing of files. Now every staff is responsible and accountable for files treated “.
Also addressing the pensioners on the ongoing gratuity payment exercise, Namaska said the process for the 5th batch has been completed adding that cheques for beneficiaries would be ready by Monday.