Gombe releases N10.32bn gratuity to 6,665 retirees
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe GOMBE — Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Thursday announced the release of N10.32 billion to settle outstanding gratuities owed 6,665 state and local government retirees. Yahaya,…
Unpaid gratuities and pensions have long been a source of hardship for retired civil servants across Nigerian states, with many workers waiting years after retirement to receive terminal benefits owed to them by state and local governments. The delays have repeatedly sparked protests by pensioner groups and scrutiny of state finances, as gratuity backlogs are often cited as evidence of weak fiscal planning or diversion of funds meant for retirees.
Gombe State's release of N10.32 billion to clear gratuities for 6,665 state and local government retirees marks an attempt to address part of this backlog. Both Vanguard and Punch report the figure and beneficiary numbers consistently, attributing the announcement to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, though neither account yet details how far back the arrears date, the source of funding, or whether further tranches remain outstanding for other categories of pensioners.