For years, retired local government and Zamfara State workers had been waiting for their gratuities, but to no avail. The backlo...
For years, retired local government and Zamfara State workers had been waiting for their gratuities, but to no avail. The backlog of unpaid benefits had grown to over N13 billion, leaving many retirees in a state of hardship. However, hope arrived when Governor Dauda Lawal took office and made it a priority to settle the debt.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Gusau, the governor's spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that N7,345,674,918.42 was paid as a backlog of gratuities in seven batches.
In January 2024, the Zamfara State Government established a committee to verify the unpaid gratuities, and the process began. In seven batches, a total of N7,345,674,918.42 was paid to the deserving retirees.
The first six batches saw 1,926 state pensioners receive their gratuity entitlements, totaling N3,345,642,807.22. The seventh batch paid out N499,886,578.77 to 215 verified state pensioners.
But that was not all - 3,513 retired local government and primary school teachers also received their gratuities in seven batches, totaling N3,500,145,532.43. The retirees were overjoyed, and their faces lit up with smiles as they received their long-awaited benefits.
Governor Lawal's commitment to revamping the Zamfara civil service has brought relief to many families. The retirees can now enjoy their golden years with dignity, thanks to the governor's prompt action. As one retiree said, "We are grateful to Governor Lawal for keeping his promise. We can now live our lives without worrying about our benefits."
The payment of the gratuities is a testament to Governor Lawal's dedication to the welfare of his people.
His administration's efforts have brought hope and joy to the retirees, and they look forward to a brighter future.
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