The Gombe State Government has commenced the payment of N10.32bn in gratuities to 6,665 state and local government retirees. This payment is part of the government's efforts to clear the inherited gratuity backlog of N21bn owed to state and local government retirees since 2019. Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed this on Thursday at the official commencement of the sixth tranche of gratuity payments by his administration.
According to Governor Yahaya, N6.24bn was approved for state government retirees covering the years 2024 and 2025, while N4.08bn was released to support local governments in clearing their gratuity backlogs. The payment will benefit 2,354 state government retirees and 4,311 local government retirees across the state. This move is aimed at ensuring that retirees receive their gratuities promptly and with dignity.
Governor Yahaya stated that his administration inherited a N21bn gratuity backlog when it assumed office in 2019, covering local government retirees from 2012 to 2019 and state retirees from 2014 to 2019. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, recessions, the Russia-Ukraine war, fuel subsidy removal, and naira flotation, his administration had paid N33.283bn in gratuities before Thursday's disbursement.
The latest N10.32bn payment brings the cumulative gratuity payments made by the administration since 2019 to N44.134bn. With this disbursement, the state's gratuity obligations up to December 2025 have been settled, and gratuities accruing from January 2026 will be paid early in 2027. The governor emphasized that his administration is working on a sustainable mechanism to prevent future accumulation of gratuity arrears.
Governor Yahaya also announced the payment of N299m in gratuities to former staff of the Gombe Investment and Property Development Company following its dissolution and the establishment of the Gombe State Investment Promotion Agency. Additionally, approval has been given for the settlement of gratuity backlogs owed to former local government chairmen and councillors from the previous administration to date.
The governor highlighted that his administration has implemented the new minimum wage for state and local government workers, as well as CONMESS and CONHESS for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. Salaries and pensions have been paid promptly throughout his tenure, including during periods of recession. The administration's decision to delay large-scale recruitment was partly due to the need to clear inherited gratuity obligations and an already overstaffed public service.
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammadu Magaji, described the commencement of the payment as a new chapter in the administration of pensions and gratuities in the state. He commended the governor for efforts to strengthen the state's fiscal management, improve internally generated revenue, enhance budget credibility, and promote transparency and accountability. Magaji urged the beneficiaries to appreciate the government's commitment to settling the inherited obligations.
Key points
- - The Gombe State Government has paid N10.32bn gratuity to 6,665 state and local government retirees. - The payment brings the cumulative gratuity payments made by the administration since 2019 to N44.134bn. - The governor is working on a sustainable mechanism to prevent future accumulation of gratuity arrears.
