Kano State governor, Alhaji Abba Yusuf, has flagged off the payment of the fourth tranche of gratuity and death benefits to 3,313 beneficiaries of retired workers in the state.
The governor had earlier disbursed N6 billion in the first tranche, followed by N5 billion each in the second and third tranches, demonstrating a sustained commitment to offsetting the massive debt left by the previous administration.
In his remarks during Thursdayās flag ceremony for beneficiaries from 2020-2023, Governor Yusuf reiterated his commitment to resolving the years of hardship and futility faced by retirees and their families.
He said, as promised in his campaign promises, to settle the N48bn backlog of unpaid pensionersā benefits, a cumulative sum of N22bn has so far been settled, promising that another tranche of N5bn has been set aside for payment before the end of August.
According to him, āWe are dedicated to ensuring the well-being and welfare of civil servants and retirees in the state. All your entitlements will be paid not only for your benefits but as soon as they are due for the social-economic development of our state and the restoration of trust in government,ā he said.
While warning that the state will not condone dubious or favoritistic acts while dispensing the benefits, he solicited more patience, promising that the remaining balance would be cleared in subsequent tranches.
At the event, the governor also presented a N4.5bn housing check to Alh Abu Fagge, the chairman of the pension board, for the benefit of senior citizens.
In his remarks, the Kano state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kabiru Inuwa, commended the state governor for his efforts to improve the welfare of civil servants and retirees in the state.
He said the disbursements from the retireesā fund symbolise respect for human and worker lives in the state.
The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Shuibu Jibril, thanked the state government for the wonderful gestures it has shown to the stateās retirees.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the money judiciously, looking at the economic situation in the country.
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