Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State has announced the disbursement of ₦8.2 billion to clear part of the backlog of gratuities owed to retirees in the state and local government service.

Speaking at the Government House, Gombe, on Tuesday during the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries, Yahaya said the payment covered a total of 3,204 retirees across the state.

According to him, ₦6.6 billion was approved for 2,142 state government retirees, while ₦1.6 billion was earmarked for 1,062 local government retirees.

He provided the exact figures for the disbursement: “Today, we are disbursing a further ₦8.2bn in gratuity arrears to state and local government retirees. This comprises ₦6.6 billion for 2,142 retirees of the State Government, and ₦1.6 billion for 1,062 retirees from our Local Government Areas, making a total of 3,204 retirees.”

Yahaya explained that the payments were structured according to the financial capacity of each tier of government.

He detailed the targeted arrears: “Payment for state government retirees will cover the years 2021, 2022, and 2023; while that for local government retirees will be conducted as follows: Funakaye, Kwami, and Nafada for 2024 retirees; Akko, Billiri, and Shongom for 2018 retirees; Dukku and Balanga for 2017 retirees; and Gombe, Kaltungo, and Yamaltu-Deba for 2016 retirees.”

With the latest disbursement, the governor revealed that total gratuity payments made since 2019 now stand at ₦33.826 billion, the highest in Gombe State’s history.

He confirmed this achievement: “With today’s disbursement, our cumulative gratuity payment has reached a historic 33.826 billion since 2019.”

He then placed this commitment into historical perspective: “In the entire history of Gombe State, no administration has demonstrated a comparable commitment to the welfare of our retirees who have served with hard work and dedication.”

Yahaya attributed the achievement to his administration’s disciplined financial management and commitment to transparency.

He stated that for him, this is a matter of principle: “The payment of these obligations is a testament to our disciplined financial management and prudent utilisation of resources.”

He concluded by defining the policy as a “sacred trust”: “For us, this is a matter of principle and sacred trust. We are determined to ensure that every retiree lives a life of dignity after a lifetime of service.”

Yahaya added that his government would continue to prioritise the welfare of pensioners and ensure that “no one who has faithfully served Gombe State is left to suffer due to the non-payment of their gratuity or any other rightful entitlement.”