Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has vowed to wipe out all outstanding pension and gratuity arrears before the end of his first term in 2027, earning him the open endorsement of pensioners across the state.
Speaking at the Government House in Kano during the disbursement of the fifth tranche of N5 billion for pension and death benefits, Yusuf said the payment covered entitlements dating back to 2017 and directly benefited 1,026 retirees. He disclosed that his administration has so far cleared N27 billion from the N48 billion backlog inherited from previous governments, describing the effort as a moral responsibility to restore dignity to senior citizens who had suffered years of neglect.
“As part of our commitment to end the predicaments retirees have faced for years, we are determined to settle all outstanding gratuities before the end of this tenure, by the grace of God,” the governor declared.
Yusuf also revealed plans to empower 4,000 youths with N150,000 each as start-up capital for small businesses, aligning the initiative with his broader economic recovery agenda designed to stimulate growth and reduce poverty.
The governor’s action has drawn applause from pensioners and labour leaders alike. National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Godwin Abumisi, described Yusuf as “a star performer,” commending him for prioritising retirees at a time many other governors still leave behind huge debts. He went further to pledge the union’s support for the governor’s re-election in 2027, saying pensioners nationwide would repay his goodwill at the polls.
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“There are three categories of governors: the star performers who build infrastructure and pay pensions; the average ones who leave behind debts; and the ordinary ones who worsen the state. Governor Yusuf belongs to the first category,” Abumisi said.
Similarly, former Nigeria Labour Congress President Ayuba Wabba hailed the governor’s commitment to settling arrears, noting that pension payments have a multiplier effect on Kano’s economy by boosting household income and local commerce.
The Trumpeter reports that the latest N5 billion payout follows earlier disbursements of N6 billion, N5 billion, N5 billion, and N6 billion to retirees in the state civil service. With more than half of the inherited backlog already cleared, many pensioners say Yusuf has restored hope where despair once prevailed.
