Gov. Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of retirees with the disbursement of N8.2 billion as gratuity payments to over 3,000 state and local government pensioners.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on Tuesday in Gombe, Yahaya said the exercise was part of his government’s strategic plan to clear all outstanding gratuities by 2027, ensuring that no retiree is left behind.
“During the last payment exercise in July this year, we made a firm pledge to achieve zero gratuity backlog by 2027. Today’s event is another bold step toward that vision,” the governor said.
He explained that the government had approved N8.2 billion for the payment of accumulated gratuities, including N6.6 billion for state retirees covering 2021 to 2023, and one-year gratuity arrears for 162 local government retirees across the 11 council areas.
According to him, the next phase of the exercise will cover retirees for 2024 and 2025, adding that the government had developed a phased payment schedule to ensure full clearance by the end of his tenure.
“By next year, we will clear the gratuities of 2024 and 2025 retirees, and by the first quarter of 2027, every retiree in Gombe State would have been fully paid. No one will be left waiting for their entitlements,” Yahaya assured.
The governor also outlined that under the state’s phased payment plan, local governments such as Funakaye, Kwami and Nafada would clear their backlogs in 2024, while Akko, Billiri and Shongom would settle theirs for 2018. Dukku and Balanga are to clear outstanding payments for 2017, while Gombe, Kaltungo and Yamaltu Deba will complete payments for 2016.
Yahaya disclosed that since he assumed office in 2019, his administration had paid a cumulative N33.826 billion in gratuities and pension-related liabilities — the highest in the state’s history.
“With today’s disbursement, our cumulative gratuity payment has reached a historic N33.826 billion, a record unmatched in the annals of Gombe State. No administration has shown greater compassion or commitment to the welfare of our retirees,” he said.
He added that all pensioners in the state are up to date with their allowances, stressing that his administration remained resolute in ensuring that retirees live their post-service lives in dignity.
Earlier, the State Auditor-General and Chairman of the Gratuity Payment Committee, Mohammad Buba Gombe, said the current disbursement amounts to N8.171 billion.
He noted that the consistent clearance of gratuity arrears reflects the government’s fiscal discipline, financial prudence, and genuine concern for the welfare of retired workers.
One of the beneficiaries, Adamu Muhammad Salama, speaking on behalf of the retirees, thanked the governor for restoring the hope of pensioners who had long suffered neglect.
“In the past, retirees died waiting for their entitlements, and their children had to collect payments on their behalf. Today, that sad history is changing. We thank the governor for restoring our hope and dignity,” Salama said.
The ceremony featured the symbolic presentation of gratuity cheques to select retirees, formally launching the payment process across the state.
