Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has commenced the payment of ₦10 billion as the first tranche of outstanding gratuities owed to state and local government retirees in the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed announced this on Wednesday during the flag-off ceremony for the payment of gratuities at the Local Government Audit premises, opposite the Treasury Headquarters, Bauchi.
The governor who was represented by his deputy Auwal Jatau said his administration inherited a backlog of gratuity liabilities dating back to 2012, describing the situation as one of the major fiscal challenges confronting successive administrations in the state.
He said the government had validated historical records showing 5,736 beneficiaries with outstanding obligations amounting to ₦11.704 billion for the period between 2012 and 2016.
According to him, the figure comprises 3,570 state government beneficiaries covering 2012 to 2016, with an outstanding obligation of ₦6.133 billion, while 2,256 local government beneficiaries covering 2013 to 2016 are owed ₦5.579 billion.
Mohammed said the payment would be carried out in batches, with the sequence determined by the chronology of outstanding obligations, completeness of records, outcome of validation and reconciliation, and available resources.
He assured retirees that the commencement of the exercise did not mean that other beneficiaries would be excluded, stressing that the government would continue with subsequent batches until the outstanding liabilities were substantially cleared.
The governor said the state had established the Bauchi State Contributory Pension Scheme to oversee data validation, verification and disbursement as part of efforts to address the backlog and strengthen pension administration.
He said a committee led by former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Sabiu Baba, had worked on the processes and procedures for implementing the scheme.
The governor directed officials involved in the exercise to ensure transparency, speed and efficiency, while warning against bureaucratic bottlenecks, unnecessary delays, favouritism and corruption.
He also directed that elderly and frail retirees should receive priority and be spared dehumanising conditions during the verification process.
Mohammed said the government was conscious of the economic difficulties facing retirees and their families, noting that gratuities represented the reward for years of service to the state.
He urged beneficiaries to cooperate with the verification teams and present their relevant documents in an orderly manner.
The governor also commended the retirees for their patience and resilience, as well as the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Bauchi State chapter.
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