Kano Pays N2bn To 1,313 Pensioners As Gratuity, Pension Arrears

By admin On Dec 19, 2018

By Umar Isa

Kano State Government has released N2 billion to the accounts of 1,313 Pensioners, as their Pension Arrears and Gratuity.

It could be recalled that the administration of Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje had set up an eight-Member Committee to facilitate the settlement of outstanding retirement benefits for Pensioners in the State.

Flagging-off the payment exercise at the Government House, Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed that the settlement covered the period of November 2015 to June 2017 based on the report submitted by the Committee.

“Just recently a Committee under the PermanentSecretary Establishment office of the Head of Civil Service Hajiya Uwani Musa has been set up by thisadministration to complement the effort of the Pension Fund Trustees in thepayment of retirement benefit.

“In this regard, the Committee had submitted its first report covering November 2015 – June 2016 in which the sum of N2 billion will be distributed to 1,313 beneficiaries of which we are witnessing the occasion today” he said.

Dr. Ganduje, represented by his Deputy, Nasiru YusufGawuna noted that the administration since assumption of office, had expended over N36 billion as monthly Pension to the Pensioners in the State.

A statement signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor Hassan Musa Fagge said the administration equally settled the sum of over N9 billion to 5,858 Pensioners across the State as outstanding Pension benefit covering Gratuity/death benefit and Pension Arrears inherited from theprevious administration.

While assuring for the sustainability of the Pension payment in the State, he said, “this Committee has just concluded compilation of its second report covering June to December 2016 of which if the financial commitment is submitted to the Government, it will be given special consideration”.

Ganduje added that a Technical Committee on Pension had been inaugurated to improve the 2006 Pension law and look in to the possibility of amending the relevant sections of the law to strengthen the Pension Fund and insulate it from the Executive arbitrariness.

“I will like to use this medium to draw the attention of the Kano State Judiciary, particularly Shari’a Court in the State as a matter of urgency disburse all monies to the heirs of decease Civil Servant immediately after the payment”, he urged.

Earlier, the State Head of Civil Service, Alhaji AuwalMuhammad Na’iya maintained that the numerous achievements being recorded by the present administration under the Civil Service operation, have become clear testimony of its commitment to the welfare of the Civil Servants and Pensioners.

“the State Government under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje makes prompt payment of Salary to Civil Servants at N1.6 billion monthly and over N1 billion to Pensioners respectively, apart from the issue of annual increament, promotion and training of Staff ” he disclosed.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the State PensionFund Trustees Alhaji Sani Dawaki Gabasawa thanked the State Government for the support and cooperation given to the Pension Trustees, pointing out that there was no single month during which Pensioners in the State did not get their Pension.

He listed the 21 Houses being secured by the administration for the Pension Fund in Abuja and recent commissioning of the 7-Storey Building of the Kano State Pension Fund House called Sinoki House, as some of the great achievements recorded by the Ganduje’s administration.

Others who spoke at the occassion including the State Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo and the State Chairman Nigerian Union of Pensioners Comrade Salisu Gwale praised the state government for addressing the plight of its pensioners.