Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya has flagged off the payment of Gratuity to retirees, to the tune of 1.5 billion naira.
Governor Yahaya said he inherited a liability of gratuity of 24 billion naira, accrued to both the state and local government areas and that he pledged from the onset of his administration to pay such liabilities that fall within his tenure.
He also said his pledge included paying off backlog, so as to move the state forward.
“The right pedestal that can make us progress seamlessly without any problems, especially if we are to leave behind a beautiful and good state for our children. That is why we made efforts to pay,” Governor Yahaya said.
He said payment had so far been made for three years and that efforts were on to streamline and align the state with the Nigerian Government to enable the state to recover and pay all backlogs, through a contributory pension.
The Gombe State Governor said such recoveries could be made through the creation of a special fund, which would save surplus funds for use in offsetting such obligations.
He said such efforts were being made to prevent civil servants from being demoralised and depressed, especially the retired ones.
“We are trying to see that between the young and the old, we bridge the gap and we give succour to the people. That is why we did this and In-Asha-Allah, we will continue to do so until the end,” Governor Yahaya said.
He said shortly after he took over the reins of power, he met consistent debit and it had to be borrowing 1.3 billion in order to pay salaries, let alone the payment of pensions and gratuities.
According to him, the Gombe State Government has stabilised in the payment of Pensions and gratuities, which were paid from the government earnings and is able to save.
Plans Ahead
On the plans he has for the civil servants in the local government areas, Governor Yahaya said strong and buoyant LGAs should pay up, while the government looks at ways to help the less strong LGAs to pay up.
Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya directed the Local Government Auditor-General to prepare a list of retirees of local government areas for prompt payment of their benefits, while explaining the efforts being made by his administration to improve and provide the needed welfare to workers in the state.
Empowerment/Distribution
The Gombe State Government has also distributed 250 tricycles, Keke NAPEP as loans Empowerment Intervention to the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE.
The loan is to be paid back in between four and five years, as part of efforts to empower local government employees to augment their salaries.
Governor Yahaya urged LGA workers to use the loan to enhance their work and improve the living standards of their families.
The Gombe State President of NULGE, Mr. Sale Abdullahi, said the eligible beneficiary of the tricycle was expected to get the empowerment tool at the rate of 1.3 million naira and payable in four to five years.
Mr. Abdullahi said the loan was only meant for those whose salaries were strong enough to cover the reductions and enable them to have the tricycle on loan.
He said NULGE had also requested that the Gombe State Government extend the gesture to cover loans on motorcycles to enable low-income earners to have them also.
The Gombe State NULGE President thanked Governor Yahaya for the gesture, saying this is the first time such distribution was being made to local government staff.
He encouraged members of NULGE not to sell off their tricycle, but use it to improve the living standards of their families, so that after deductions were made, the income from the tricycle business would cover up for the monies deducted.
Confidence Okwuchi
