The Kano State Government has paid retirement gratuities and death benefits to a total of 5,333 pensioners.
During the flag-off of the second phase of the payments, Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf detailed that 1,291 state pensioners, whose gratuities ranged from N1 million to N2.5 million, and 1,440 local government pensioners, with gratuities between N1 million and N1.3 million, have already received their payments.
Additionally, 988 families or heirs of deceased civil servants have been compensated. This includes 355 families or heirs of civil servants with gratuities between N1 million and N3.5 million, and 633 families or heirs of deceased local government staff with gratuities between N1 million and N3 million.
The Governor announced that the remaining N1 billion from the N6 billion allocated in Phase 1 has been reserved to settle 1,216 state and local government pensioners whose screenings were recently concluded. An additional N5 billion has been earmarked to address the pension liabilities of 4,000 pensioners in the second phase of payments.
Yusuf recalled inheriting a troubled pension system with an unpaid liability of N43 billion from the previous administration. He highlighted issues such as pensioners having to surrender a significant percentage of their benefits before receiving the balance and pointed out the corruption, irregularities, and illegal deductions that plagued the system.
Upon assuming office, Yusuf halted these irregularities and deductions, ensuring the consistent payment of gratuities and pensions to retired and deceased civil servants. He pledged to continue addressing the substantial backlog of unpaid pensions left by the previous administration.
