Bauchi begins N10bn gratuity backlog payment

File photo: Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.

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 on Wednesday, saying 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 the 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.

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.

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.

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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.

The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Abubakar Sulaiman, said the legislature unanimously approved the release of funds for the payment of the outstanding gratuity.

Sulaiman said the House had remained concerned about the hardship faced by retirees as a result of the accumulated backlog.

He said, “The commencement of this month’s payment of gratuity is an important step towards addressing a long-standing obligation to the men and women who devoted their productive years to the service and development of our dear state.

“The House has demonstrated its commitment through concrete legislative action by approving the request of the government to secure the necessary financing for the settlement of outstanding gratuity.”

The Speaker said the House approved the measure because gratuity was an entitlement earned through years of dedicated service and should not be regarded as a favour to retired workers.

He commended Governor Bala Mohammed for responding to the resolutions of the House and demonstrating political will towards addressing the longstanding liability.

Sulaiman said the exercise was expected to commence with about 1,700 retirees across the state.

He assured retirees that the House would continue to provide legislative support and oversight to ensure that the welfare and legitimate entitlements of workers and pensioners received adequate attention.