The State Chairman of the
pensioners, Alhaji Habu Gar, said this in Bauchi while reacting to the release
of N100 millions by the state government to reduce backlog of the gratuity.
Bauchi State Chapter of the
Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), said on Thursday that the state government
owed retirees N27 billion accumulated gratuities.
Gar said that though the
amount released was paltry considering the magnitude of arrears owed, it was
still better compared to none release of the funds by previous administrations
in the state.
“If the previous
administrations embarked on such exercise, we would not have been talking about
accumulated gratuities.
“I, therefore, urge my
members yet to enjoy the gesture, to be patient because gradually, it will
reach them.
“I have received over 2,000
phone calls from my members, some commending the government over the gesture,
while some were demanding to know their fate.
“I want to tell them that
the exercise commenced with retirees who retired in the year 2010 and early
2011.
“Government has promised
that it will be a monthly exercise, therefore, I am sure that in no distant
time, everyone will be paid,” he said.
Gar called on the
government to adhere to its promise to enable the retirees, most of whom have
suffered in the last nine years, enjoy their sweat.
He commended the government
for according priority to families of deceased retirees, which according to
him, would enable them off-set their rents, school fees and even build houses.
The chairman advised the
state government to take steps at ensuring that the exercise was not marred by
fraudulent act.
Special Adviser to Gov.
Bala Muhammed on Civil Service Matters, Mr Abdon Dalla-Gin, confirmed the
amount owed, saying the debt profile was within the region of N28 billion or
N29 billion.
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