Michael Olugbode in AbujaGovernor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State has approved the release of N5.81 billion to clear a substantial backlog of gratuities owed to retired civil servants and the families of deceased workers, in one of the state’s biggest pension settlement exercises aimed at easing the hardship facing former public servants.
The governor yesterday presented cheques valued at N5,814,830,271.94 at the Government House in Maiduguri before representatives of organised labour and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to meeting workers’ welfare obligations.
Of the total sum, N2.99 billion would be used to settle all outstanding gratuities owed to the families of deceased civil servants, while N2.82 billion would clear gratuities for retirees up to December 2022, including outstanding entitlements owed to staff of the Borno State Housing Corporation dating back to 2013.
Zulum said the intervention fulfils a major campaign promise and is intended to provide relief to families that have endured years of financial uncertainty.“We have quite a number of civil servants who have lost their lives, and their families are still battling with life’s challenges. We are presenting about three billion naira to the families of deceased civil servants so they can continue to live in peace and dignity,” the governor said.
