How Dr. Sarah Is Championing Governor Kefas Pension Reforms In Taraba

If there is one official who has demonstrated exceptional passion and meticulous commitment in driving the reforms of Governor Agbu Kefas’ administration over the past 33 months, it is Dr. Sarah Enoch, the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning.

Against all odds, and amid skepticism, resistance, and political distractions, Dr. Enoch has remained resolute in implementing Governor Kefas‘s fiscal policies, particularly those targeted at restoring dignity to retired civil servants. Her stewardship has been central to the financial restructuring that now prioritizes pensioners’ welfare, as a moral and administrative obligation.

From the outset of his administration on May 29, 2023, Governor Kefas made it clear that civil service reform would be a cornerstone of his government. The civil service, regarded as the engine room of governance, had suffered years of systemic distortions, manipulated records, unverified payrolls, ghost workers, and eroded institutional confidence. The foundation was weak, and the consequences were severe, especially for retirees.

For over 16 years, particularly between 2010 and 2016, pensioners in Taraba State endured untold hardship, many of whom lived in uncertainty, with no clear timeline for the payment of gratuities.

More disturbing is the situation where access to benefits often depended on political connections, ethnic considerations, or lobbying power. Those without access to influence were left in prolonged despair.

According to available records, Governor Kefas inherited a staggering sum of N23 billion, as a backlog of unpaid gratuities for the period under review. The situation was both a financial burden and a moral stain on the conscience of the state.

Understanding the agony of pensioners, many of whom are elderly and battling health challenges, the governor did not hesitate to approve the release of over N7 billion to begin clearing the outstanding gratuities.

The directive was clear and simple, that no pensioner should be punished for serving the state. Those who have laboured and made sacrifices should be rewarded, hence why Dr. Sarah Enoch, who was entrusted and saddle with the responsibility of executing the most delicate assignment, had ensured that the process was transparent, inclusive, and systematic.

Under her supervision, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Finance, in the ministry, Mr. Douglas Kisaba, developed a structured disbursement framework that is devoid of favoritism, therefore ending the era of “who-knows-who.“ Due process and the culture of first come first served was the order of the day.

Beyond financial approval, Dr. Enoch initiated an awareness campaign to reach out to pensioners in rural communities, through the traditional and new media platforms, especially those who have communication barriers and network challenges. The involvement of traditional rulers, community leaders and religion centers (Mosques and Churches) to reach out to their subjects and/or members further deepen the state government commitment to ensure no pensioner in the state is left out.

Additionally, the ministry took deliberate steps to ensure that no retiree was excluded as a result of logistic issues, as even those who appeared before the screening committee after initial verification exercises were accommodated.

This is just as the governor through the Ministry of Finance Budget and Economic Planning initiated a reform process that is driven largely by ICT, to address long-standing payroll distortions and eliminating fraudulent entries, such as manipulated and unverified records names without faces, salaries without service. This digital transformation in the state civil service restored credibility to the system and ensured that payments reached verified beneficiaries.

Despite limited resources, Governor Kefas directed that additional funds be requested whenever necessary to cover retirees from 2016 to 2024, which demonstrated the government‘s unwavering commitment to clearing the backlog of gratuity completely.

Approximately, according to a record of about 1,750  living pensioners were screened and paid, with the support of other staff members of the ministry. No payments were made by proxy, except in cases involving pensioners with critical health conditions.

Today, the impact is visible in such a manner that, the years of despondency has been illuminated with testimonies of hope, joy and gratitude, whereas retirees who once lived in uncertainty now smile as gratuities are paid directly into their accounts. Some of the pensioners have to offset medical bills, support in catering for family needs, revived small businesses and regained a sense of self worth. For the first time in years, pensioners speak of relief rather than regret.

Ironically, most of the retirees now describe their lives as more stable than during their active service, as monthly pensions now flow more consistently alongside gratuity payments. What more than to appreciate Governor Agbu Kefas and his lieutenant, Dr. Sarah Enoch for the timely intervention.

Initially, when Governor Kefas announced the commencement of gratuity payments, the decision was met with mixed reactions. Some dismissed it as political rhetoric, as years of neglect had bred deep skepticism.

However, for the sustained and structured disbursement under Dr. Enoch’s financial management has transformed doubt into trust.

As a retired military Colonel, Governor Kefas simply reflected on what retirement means for public servants, aging, vulnerability, and dependence on earned benefits. That personal understanding shaped his resolve to confront the pension crisis despite other pressing governance challenges.

Two years into his administration, the pension reform stands as one of the clearest indicators of his governance philosophy, service delivery, transparency, adherence to due process, and respect for the rule of law.

Through disciplined fiscal management and deliberate prioritization, Dr. Sarah Enoch has played a pivotal role in translating that vision into measurable outcomes. Her stewardship of the state’s financial architecture has not only funded reform but has also restored confidence in government institutions.

For Governor Kefas, the era of selective gratuity payments based on political, ethnic, or religious considerations is gradually fading, thereby inclusivity, accountability, and fairness are redefining public administration in Taraba State.

For thousands of pensioners who once felt forgotten, the narrative has changed from neglect to recognition, from hardship to hope, and in that transformation, the quiet but firm hand of Dr. Sarah Enoch remains unmistakable.