By Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe

Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state has pledged to settle all gratuity backlogs of retired civil servants entitlements for both local and state governments before the end of his tenure.

Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya made the pledge while Presenting Cheques to pensioners as Gratuities to State and Local Governments Retirees held at the new banquet hall of the Government House Gombe.

Governor Yahaya said the event marks government strong commitment towards improving the welfare of civil servants and retirees alike, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the development of the state. adding that on assumption of office in 2019, one of the key challenges they inherited was the backlog of 21 billion naira of gratuity arrears owed to state and local government retirees.

He added that in pursuit of justice and fairness, government made it a priority to address this issue head-on.

Over the past five years, government has cleared over 7 billion naira of these backlogs, thus providing much-needed relief and dignity to retirees who have dedicated their lives to the service of the state.

He said government commitment to civil service reforms extends beyond addressing pension and gratuity arrears, as his administration established Bureau for Public Service Reforms in order to address issues associated with the service, saying the move helped in panel beating the service, making it more efficient and effectively.

Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya said the payment amounting to the sum of NGN5,440,045,865.73 to both state and local government retirees, which will settle the backlog of 2018 retirees, and that for the local government arrears,, the payment is implemented based on individual resources, with financially capable local governments able to settle more of such obligations than their less capable counterparts.

In this regards according to the governor, Kwami, Funakaye and Nafada Local Government Areas are able to clear all their backlogs, while Akko, Billiri, Dukku and Shongom are to settle for 2014 and 2015 retirees, Balanga and Yamaltu Deba are to clear the backlogs of 2013 and 2014 retirees; while Kaltungo and Gombe are to clear the one for 2013 retirees only and this approach will go a long way in entrenching prudence and accountability, because it is only fair for each local government to bear its own burdens.

Governor Yahaya also make it unequivocally clear that his administration will not condone any form of indiscipline or misconduct that is capable of tarnishing the image of the civil service and Gombe State at large adding that government expect every civil servant to demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability in their conduct and interactions.

He commended the labour leaders, retiree union leaders, and other stakeholders for their patience, understanding, cooperation and commitment to dialogue during the process of addressing these backlogs and implementing civil service reforms advising them to continue to work hand in hand with the government towards building a civil service that is responsive, efficient, and accountable to the needs of the people.

Earlier the committee chairman for the payment of state and local government gratuity who is also a state Auditor General Alhaji Muhammad Buba Gombe, stated that over 4000 retirees will be paid their gratuities in both state and local governments, added that the payment covers the period from 2013 through 2022 for local government retirees and 2018 through 2022 for state government retirees.

He said, the governor inherited a huge backlog of gratuity and other entitlements, and since assumption of office in 2019, he has been doing his best to put things in order saying the local governments were hitherto bedevilled by the non-enrollment of workers on pension payroll by the past administration.

The Auditor General added that upon assumption into office, the governor directed that henceforth every retirees should be enrolled on pension payroll immediately he retires from the service.

He appreciated the governor’s kind gesture for approving billions of Naira for the settlement of backlog gratuities amounting to 3, 148, 401,503 to be paid to LG retirees covering the year 2013 to 2022 depending on the strength and ability of each local government council.

Accordingly, the Governor equally authorized the payment of 2, 291, 644, 362 to state retirees covering the year 2018.

He said this brings the total to twelve billion, seven hundred and thirty-six million, one hundred and twenty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-five Naira (N12, 736, 128, 885) so far approved by the Governor for the payment of gratuity for both state and local government councils.

Alh Buba Gombe, added that despite limited resources in the state’s coffers, it is on record that within the first tenure, Governor Yahaya has graciously paid the retirees who left the service of the state from the year 2014 to 2017 and the payment totalled Six billion, forty six million, seven hundred and thirty thousand, nine hundreds and forty one Naira (N6 ,046 ,730 ,941).

Responding on behalf of all the benefited retirees, Alhaji Garba Sama’ila appreciate governor Inuwa for coming to their rescue at this critical time of economic hardships, saying the governor, by this gesture is not only paying gratuities to retired workers, but also extending a saving hand to millions of their family members from the grab of the present day economic hardships.

He said many of them have paralysed and some have already died from ailments relating to non-payment of their retirement benefits added that they have faced a lot of hardships, but to God be the glory, those of them that retired since 2012/2013 have today been paid their benefits.

He pledged the support of their union to Inuwa-led Administration whom he described as humanitarian governor and friend of retirees prayed for the success of his policies and programmes for the upliftment of Gombe State.

The governor presented some cheques to the retirees most of whom retired since 2013 but have not been paid their retirement benefits.