Succour at last, as Niger State Government on Tuesday disbursed the sum of twenty five billion naira (N25 billion) to clear 21 years of outstanding pensions and gratuities owed to retirees of both local and state government civil servants in the state.
While disclosing this in an interview, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago said the substantial payment underscores the administration’s dedication to the welfare of the state’s retired civil servants after their meritorious service years.
He said, “in addition to settling these long-standing arrears, my government has also paid N20,000 wage award to civil servants across the board for the second time in two months.
“The state government has commenced the payment of all outstanding leave grants that have been pending since 2018 to date.
“This move is seen as a significant step towards alleviating the financial burden on retirees, some of whom have not received their pensions for over 20 years, leading to a considerable backlog”.
He added that, the payment process will continue in batches, starting from retirees in the local government areas.
Governor Bago further disclosed that the current administration under his leadership is committed to ensuring that pension payments are made on time moving forward, to prevent similar situations in the future.
Governor Umaru Bago also issued a stern warning against any attempts to alter the serial numbers and files of beneficiaries, adding that “anyone found guilty of such actions will face severe consequences”.