The Bauchi State Government has commenced the process of settling outstanding gratuity owed to retired civil servants who left service between 2012 and 2016.
Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by his deputy, Auwal Jatau, announced the commencement of the payment during the symbolic presentation of a cheque on Wednesday.
Mohammed said the first batch of beneficiaries would receive their entitlements under the exercise, adding that subsequent payments would continue until all verified retirees affected by the backlog were paid.
The governor disclosed that the state government had earmarked N10bn to tackle accumulated gratuity liabilities. He said validated historical records put the total outstanding obligations for state and local government retirees at N11.71bn.
According to him, the state government owes N6.13bn to 3,570 beneficiaries, while 2,262 local government retirees are owed N5.58bn.
Mohammed explained that the disbursement would be carried out in phases, taking into account the age of the outstanding obligations, availability of supporting documents, validation and reconciliation, as well as funds approved for each stage.
He said, “No eligible pensioner should interpret this first phase as an exclusion. We are beginning from defined historical brackets so that government can process systematically and transparently.
“We are starting here, but we are not stopping here. The validated historical records before government cover the accumulated obligations.”
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According to the governor, some retirees had waited for over 10 years to receive their gratuity, making the accumulated liability one of the major challenges inherited by his administration.
He said, “Today, we say to you, your wait is finally coming to an end. Acknowledging the plight of our senior citizens, when we talk about monthly living, there should be dignity.
“It is a systemic injustice when, after finishing years of service, you are unable to receive your hard-earned entitlement. Sadly, we have lost some of our colleagues along the way without them tasting the fruit of their labour.”
Mohammed said the beneficiaries had contributed significantly to the development of Bauchi State, having spent decades helping to build its infrastructure, schools, healthcare institutions and administrative system.
He also said the administration had established the Bauchi State Contributory Pension Scheme to improve the handling of pension matters, particularly data validation, verification and reconciliation.
The governor directed officials and the committee responsible for the payment to ensure that the process was transparent, prompt and fair. He also ordered the elimination of bureaucratic delays in verification and instructed officials to accord senior citizens priority and treat them with dignity.
Mohammed described the payment as more than a financial intervention, saying it reflected the government’s commitment to settling inherited obligations and improving the welfare of retirees.
He urged beneficiaries to submit all required documents, cooperate with the verification exercise and make prudent use of the funds for their welfare and that of their families.
The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Sulaiman, meanwhile, said the legislature had unanimously approved the release of funds for the payment of the outstanding gratuity.