Gombe state government flags off gratuity payments.

By Rachel Bwala

The Gombe State Deputy Governor, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, has flagged off completion of 2015 payment of gratuity to Servants in the State.

Performing the flag off ceremony at the Accountant General’s Office in the metropolis, Dr Manassah Jatau, noted that payment is to alleviate suffering of the retired workers and shall be a continued process, within available resources.

” It is the desire of our administration to continue the payment of gratuity and all other entitlements of workers and retirees in the state so as to put smiles back again on the faces of our retired Civil Servants who served the state and humanity”, he said.

Drawing from religious point of view the Deputy Governor stressed that it is an injunction that workers must be paid their wages, therefore their administration is determine to ensure people’s benefits are paid without unnecessary delay.

“Our Government has been committed to payment of benefits and shall continue the payment of entitlement of retirees. Pray that we shall continue to have funds for the continued payment of gratuity of those that have not yet gotten their own”, he added.

Dr Mannasah Jatau explained that, the state government owes over 20 billion gratuities out of which 3 billion was paid and some are on the process of payment.

He pointed out that 50 retirees are to be paid in the ongoing exercise, being the completion of the 2015 retirees.

Earlier in his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Mohammed Gambo Magaji, described the event as a milestone development in the history of the administration as Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya graciously approved payment of gratuity of staff who retired in 2015.

The Commissioner recalled that, the administration inherited a huge sum of money as liabilities and in his wisdom and sympathy the Governor has approved the settlement of the gratuities within available resources.

In his vote of thanks the state Secretary, Gombe state Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mallam Danjuma Adamu, who Represented the Chairman appreciated the gesture of the government and appealed for the payment of those who retired at local governments.

Briefing Newsmen shortly after the event, the Honourable Commissioner explained that the total gratuity Government is owing stood at over 22 Billion naira comprising Over 9 Billion of Local Government retirees and over 12 billion of state retirement.

The Commissioner said from inception the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has paid three billion out of the gratuities owed state retirees expressing commitment of the Government to begin payment of local government retirees early next year.

He attributed the delay in payment of gratuities of local government retirees to audit exercise with a view to ascertaining the number of retirees and cost implication involved.

The beneficiaries interviewed expressed happiness over the magnanimity of the Governor to put smiles on their faces, calling on him to consider the plight of those yet to be paid especially those at the local government so as to alleviate their sufferings.