Yusuf blames Ganduje for retirees’ woes, settles N16b gratuities

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has accused his predecessor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, of plunging retired civil servants into hardship with eight years backlog of gratuities left for the present administration.

Yusuf, who spoke while flagging off the third tranche of N5 billion payment of gratuities backlog and death benefits of pensioners, yesterday, at the Government House, expressed worry that hundreds of retirees had passed while awaiting their entitlements.

Yusuf claimed that Ganduje left behind over N48 billion in unsettled gratuities, a situation, he said, had generated the “biggest social security threat since the creation of Kano”.

He announced an upward review of the minimum pensioner award from N5,000 to N20,000 due to the impact of inflation largely affecting the purchasing power.

“The perennial neglect of Ganduje’s administration to settle pensioners entitlements in the last eight years of his government has subjected pensioners to hardship in Kano. This is the biggest social security threat ever witnessed since the creation of Kano State. Many have lost their lives while waiting endlessly for their gratuities,” Yusuf said.

The governor explained that the release of a cumulative sum of N16 billion in gratuities to about 6,886 retirees in three tranches was part of his campaign promise to ease the pain of senior citizens, who had contributed immensely to public service while in active service.

According to him, payment of backlog gratuities to the lawful beneficiaries is not only an obligation but a moral right of every leader.

He assured the retirees of the transparent processing of the payment which they would receive through an electronic system.

Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Titus Audu Amba, lauded the commitment of the Kano State Government to reduce the overwhelming burden of pension gratuities in Kano.

He challenged other governors to follow the example of Governor Yusuf on pensioners’ entitlements.