Gov Lawal settles N9.4b in gratuities for Zamfara retirees

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has settled a total of N9,357,743,281.35 in gratuities owed to state workers since 2011.

The governor had approved the commencement of these payments in February this year.

The governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, in A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday, revealed that the government has disbursed N4,860,613,699.22 to retired state workers in nine batches.

He added that local government workers have received a total of N4,497,129,582.13.

Idris stated, “In his commitment to reform the Zamfara state civil service, in February, Governor Lawal established a committee to verify and authenticate the Zamfara State pensioners who had not been paid gratuities since 2011.” He further explained that, so far, 2,666 out of the 3,880 verified pensioners have received their total gratuity entitlements, amounting to N4,860,613,699.22, which includes beneficiaries who retired between 2015 and 2024.

“For local government and primary school teachers, Idris noted that 3,840 out of 4,804 verified retirees have been paid in nine batches, totaling N4,497,129,582.13. The outstanding total payable arrears for local government gratuities was N5,688,230,607.20, with N4,497,129,582.13 paid to date for those who retired between 2011 and 2021.

“In summary, therefore, the state has so far paid a combined total of N9,357,743,281.35 as gratuity out of the cumulative sum of N13,784,179,513.80 owed by the state to a total number of 6,506 verified retired beneficiaries out of the 8,684 total verified retired beneficiaries. The beneficiaries of the payments are those who retired between 2011 and 2024.”