Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has flagged off the disbursement of an additional tranche of gratuity payments to retired local government workers, reaffirming his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of senior citizens.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Government House in Gombe, Gov. Yahaya disclosed that a fresh sum of ₦2.06 billion has been released, bringing the total amount paid in gratuity since 2019 to N25.626 billion.
“When we assumed office in 2019, we inherited over ₦21 billion in unpaid gratuities, a crushing burden on our retired workers.
“Through prudent fiscal management, we have made it a priority to clear these backlogs. Our vision remains achieving zero gratuity liability by 2027,” the governor stated.
He added that the payments reflect his administration’s pledge to honour public servants who committed their lives to the development of the state.
The disbursement, he noted, will be carried out in line with each local government’s financial capability.
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The governor emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader reform to restore trust in public service and uphold the dignity of labour.
In his remarks, the state Auditor-General and Chairman of the Gratuity Payment Committee, Muhammad Gombe, praised the governor’s commitment to settling inherited obligations.
He urged beneficiaries to use their funds wisely to enhance their post-retirement quality of life.
Representing the retirees, Malam Umar Maude, described the payment as a “life-saving intervention,” lamenting the years of neglect suffered under past administrations.
“Many of our colleagues passed away due to a lack of care and unpaid benefits. But today, we have hope.
“The death rate among retirees has declined because we now receive our entitlements regularly,” he said.
The event climaxed with the symbolic presentation of cheques to some of the longest-waiting retirees, including those who exited service over a decade ago.
