Gov Bago releases N1bn to pay pension gratuities in Niger

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has released N1 billion for the payment of pension gratuities to 489 retirees across the state civil service, local governments, and families of deceased beneficiaries.
The Director-General of the Niger State Pension Board, Alhaji Nasiru Saidu Namaska, disclosed this during the official presentation of cheques to beneficiaries in Minna.
Unlike previous partial disbursements, Namaska confirmed that the 489 selected retirees will receive 100% of their gratuity entitlements. Breakdown of the N1 Bbillion allocation shows that State retirees & deceased beneficiaries got N500 million allocated as State Batch 12 retirees and Batch 1 deceased gratuity claims while N500 million was allocated to Local Government Batch 3 retirees.
Reassuring the public of continuous disbursements, Namaska stated that preparations are already underway for the next payment phase, which will cover State Batch 13, Batch 2 deceased claims, and Local Government Batch 4.
He reiterated the board’s commitment to equitable distribution under Governor Bago’s directive to clear backlogged gratuity liabilities spanning from 2010 to 2017.
He added that the current administration has spent N8.5 billion on pension-related payments over the last three years.
The presentation ceremony evoked emotional responses from beneficiaries—some of whom attended in wheelchairs—expressing relief and gratitude to the state government as they received their long-overdue payments.