The Gombe State Government has approved the release of ₦6.563 billion for the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retirees from 2021, 2022, and 2023, in a continued effort to uphold the welfare of workers and honour commitments to retired civil servants,
The approval was granted during the 48th State Executive Council, chaired by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, announced that the funds would be disbursed in three phases, with ₦1.954 billion to be paid in October to retirees from 2021, ₦2.267 billion in November for those who retired in 2022, and ₦2.342 billion in December for the 2023 retirees
The Commissioner highlighted that, since assuming office in 2019, Governor Yahaya’s administration had consistently prioritised the clearance of inherited gratuity arrears and had settled the payments for retirees from 2014 to 2020.
Mr. Magaji noted that the latest tranche wouls ensure the complete settlement of gratuities for Governor Yahaya’s first term in office, marking a significant milestone in the administration’s commitment to financial responsibility and social welfare.
According to the Commissioner, upon taking office in 2019, the administration inherited an unpaid gratuity backlog exceeding ₦21 billion, comprising retirement benefits owed to both state and local government workers dating back to 2014.
He said that as at today, the Gombe State Government had cleared more than ₦17 billion of the total, demonstrating a sustained commitment to social justice, accountability, and respect for labour.
Mr. Magaji said the phased approach to clearing the debt had not only alleviated financial hardship for many pensioners, but had also helped to rebuild public confidence in government institutions.
He said with the approval of this latest ₦6.563 billion payment, the administration was now poised to fully settle all remaining arrears, closing a long-standing chapter of legacy debt that had weighed on the state’s finances and its social contract.
Governor Yahaya has consistently reaffirmed that the welfare of workers, both in service and in retirement, remained a cornerstone of his government’s priorities.
Former Investment Company Staff Also to Receive Benefits
In a related development, the Gombe State Executive Council has also approved the sum of over ₦299 million for the payment of entitlements to former staff of the now-defunct Gombe State Investment and Property Development Company.
This approval ensures a dignified exit for the affected workers and a responsible conclusion to the company’s operations.
The Commissioner of Finance added that the company’s assets and commercial interests had been successfully transferred to key state institutions, including the Gombe State Investment Promotion Agency, Gombe Optimization Company Limited (GROCOL), Gombe Housing Authority, and Gombe Security Limited.
The transition, he noted, formed part of broader institutional reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency, promoting transparency, and strengthening the investment climate in Gombe State.