Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has released portable ₦5.81 billion to settle outstanding gratuities owed to the retired local government workers, with the activities envisioned to boost the welfare of workers and alleviate the financial burden of the retired contractors in the State.
The governor made this announcement at a meeting with local government officials, renewing the efforts of his administration to remove backlogs of pension obligations and pay out pensioners’ benefits without undue delays.
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The payment comes within a broader reform of the local government system, aimed at enhancing efficiency in the system to boost the welfare of existing and former workers, the governor said. The speedy payment of gratuities was still critical to recognising years of service by public servants, he added.
Zulum, also, promised to support public officials with better working conditions, timely payment of their salaries and pension payments and to continue investments in public service delivery. He advised council administrators to be diligent in the management of public resources, with respect to transparency and accountability.
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In recent years, the Borno State Government has focused on the remuneration of pensioners and pension cases, in addition to other humanitarian measures to rehabilitate public institutions and regain trust in good governance amidst years of insecurity triggered by insurgency in the state.
The approval is thought to have a beneficial impact on hundreds of retired local government employees waiting for their gratuity arrears to be settled.
