The Gombe State Executive Council, led by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has approved over N10.4 billion for the payment of outstanding gratuities to retired civil servants in the state and local governments. This decision was made during the 56th meeting of the State Executive Council held on Wednesday. The Council's decisions were disclosed during a post-EXCO press briefing presided over by the Commissioner for Information, Amb. Moses Kyari.
The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, revealed that the Council approved N2.18 billion and N4.06 billion to clear outstanding gratuities for state retirees for 2024 and 2025 respectively. He stated that the Inuwa Yahaya administration has prioritized settling inherited gratuity liabilities since its inception, making successive releases to reduce the backlog and ensure retirees receive their entitlements.
With the latest approval, the administration has cleared all outstanding gratuity liabilities at the state level, bringing the total amount paid since the inception of the administration to over N36.5 billion. This move demonstrates the government's commitment to fulfilling its obligations to retired civil servants. The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Barr. Sani Ahmad Haruna, also announced the Council's approval of N4.08 billion to clear outstanding gratuity liabilities for retirees at the local government level.
The approval for local government retirees covers various periods depending on the financial capacity and outstanding liabilities of each local government. Specifically, Akko Local Government will pay outstanding gratuities for 2019, while Balanga will cover 2018 to 2023, and Billiri will cover 2019 to 2025. Other local governments, including Dukku, Funakaye, Gombe, Kaltungo, Kwami, Nafada, Shongom, and Yamaltu/Deba, will also settle their outstanding liabilities.
In addition to the gratuity payments, the Executive Council approved the 2026 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) counterpart matching fund. The Commissioner for Education, Professor Aishatu Umar Maigari, disclosed that N6.1 billion was approved as the state's 50 per cent counterpart commitment, enabling Gombe to participate in the HOPE-EDU programme.
The HOPE-EDU programme aims to improve learning outcomes, mop up out-of-school children, recruit teachers, and strengthen basic education. The programme features a Track and Trace initiative for effective monitoring of targeted beneficiaries. This development is expected to have a positive impact on the state's education sector.
The Council also approved memoranda for the execution of road projects, including a N1.6 billion variation for the Gadam-Yame-Yari road project and the 4.3-kilometre Kembu-Kidda-Panda road spur from Nasarawo to Kuri, awarded at N2.04 billion. These projects are expected to improve the state's infrastructure.
Key points
- The Gombe State government has approved N10.4 billion to clear outstanding gratuities for retired civil servants.
- The administration has cleared all outstanding gratuity liabilities at the state level, totaling over N36.5 billion since its inception.
- The government has also approved N6.1 billion for the 2026 UBEC counterpart matching fund to improve basic education.
