… N16 Billion Paid to Pensioners, Minimum Pension Raised to N20,000
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has accused the Acting National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, of jeopardizing Kano's social security by failing to prioritize the payment of gratuities and death benefits during his eight-year tenure as governor.
Governor Yusuf expressed concern over what he described as the "perennial neglect" of pensioners under Ganduje’s administration, which left the Pension Fund Trustees with a cumulative debt of over N48 billion.
Speaking on Thursday at the official launch of the third tranche of a N5 billion payment for outstanding gratuities and death benefits, held at the Government House in Kano, Yusuf criticized his predecessor’s handling of pensioners' entitlements.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Governor Yusuf sympathized with pensioners, highlighting the hardship they endured under Ganduje's administration. He lamented that many retirees passed away while waiting for their rightful benefits.
“The perennial neglect of the Ganduje administration to settle pensioners' entitlements over the last eight years has subjected them to immense hardship,” Yusuf said. “This is the biggest social security threat ever witnessed in Kano State since its creation in 1967. Many have lost their lives while waiting endlessly for their gratuities.”
The governor revealed that his administration has so far disbursed a cumulative N16 billion in three tranches to 6,886 retirees, fulfilling a campaign promise to ease the burden on senior citizens who dedicated their lives to public service.
“Out of over N48 billion inherited, we began the settlement process with N6 billion in the first tranche for 2,667 retirees. A few months later, we released the second tranche of N5 billion to 2,216 pensioners. Today, I am delighted to launch the third tranche of N5 billion for 2,000 beneficiaries,” Yusuf stated.
To ensure transparency, Yusuf emphasized that payments are made directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, eliminating irregularities associated with the past administration's cash payment system.
In addition to paying gratuities, the governor announced the upward revision of the minimum pension from N5,000 to N20,000 to mitigate the impact of inflation on retirees' purchasing power.
He also directed the State Head of Service, the Sharia Commission, and the Pension Fund Trustees to intensify efforts to identify the relatives of deceased pensioners for the disbursement of N846 million in unclaimed death benefits.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Titus Audu Amba, commended the Kano State Government for addressing the backlog of gratuities. He urged other Nigerian governors to emulate Governor Yusuf’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare, noting that the N16 billion disbursement would not only transform the lives of beneficiaries but also positively impact the state’s macroeconomic system.
Governor Yusuf’s reforms have positioned Kano as a state prioritizing the welfare of its senior citizens, setting a benchmark for responsible governance across the country.
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