Niger Spends N6bn To Defray Retirees’ Liabilities In 3 Years

Niger State government has stated that the government has defrayed liabilities of retirees amounting to N6 billion since the assumption of the present administration three years ago.

The governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, represented by the Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba disclosed this while addressing workers at this year’s Workers’  Day celebration at 123 parade ground Minna .

He said, “It is worthy of note that from 1999 to 2023,  the  pension  liability  defrayed  by  the  government was well above N4billion, while our administration, within the space of three years, had paid pension liabilities of N6billion.

“This,  therefore,  demonstrates our  commitment to the welfare of our workers and retirees in the state.”

Bago said the state government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Finance for a Sustainable Integrated Productive Communities (SIPC) that  will enable workers  and  farmers to own homes  through productivity-backed mortgage facilities

He said the pilot scheme will begin with 100,000 hectares  model , thereby integrating mass housing with agricultural settlements to boost workers’ efficiency.

“With  this  MoU,  we  reaffirm that the dignity of  our workers is matched by the security of a shelter they can truly call their own,” he said.

In his speech the NLC chairman , Comrade Abdulkarim Lafene, appreciated the efforts of the government but sought for more investment in the pension arrears and gratuities of retirees.