Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, has approved the sum of N1bn for the payment of the backlog of gratuity owed to retired civil servants in the state since 2011.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Digital Communications, Emmanuel Bello, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to Bello, the governor, while signing the approval, directed the state’s Ministry of Finance to ensure the immediate payments of the overdue entitlements.
Kefas, who regretted the delays in the payment, said his government would not abandon workers who had served their fatherland diligently.
“Apart from the initial N1bn, the governor also approved that a sum of N200m be set aside each month to offset the backlog and continue the payments.
“The approval is the fulfillment of the campaign promise of the governor to civil servants to offset pensions and gratuity in spite of the huge backlog.
“The governor feels it is not right to deny workers who have served over the years their entitlements. This administration will continue to service and make prompt payments of salaries, pension payments, and gratuities,” the statement read.
Reacting to the approval, the Permanent Secretary, of Pensions, Mrs Rose Garba Ajiya, said the gesture would effectively end many years of anguish and frustration of aged pensioners.
