Retired individuals in Jigawa State can now breathe a sigh of relief as they have finally received their retirement benefits.
The Jigawa State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme faced challenges that led to months of inability to pay gratuity and retirement benefits.
Governor Umar Namadi took action by appointing a committee of experts to investigate the reasons behind the delayed payments to retired civil servants.
Some of the identified reasons for the delay included the failure of the 27 local governments in the state to remit at least N3.2 billion in statutory pension deductions and contributions for the years 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
This shortfall was attributed to the mass retirement of local government staff, creating a strain on the pension scheme.
Additionally, the prolonged employment gap over several years further strained the scheme, given that the number of retired civil servants exceeded the available funds.
To address the financial challenges, the state executive council approved the acquisition of a N2 billion loan to settle the gratuities of retired civil servants.
Kamilu Musa, the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme Board, reported that the scheme has successfully disbursed over N1.823 billion as terminal benefits to 702 workers who retired between 2023 and January 2024.
Musa urged the citizens of the state to continue supporting the government through prayers, emphasizing the shared prosperity agenda for a better Jigawa.
He highlighted the positive impact of the timely pension payments, stating that it has revitalized the lives of pensioners by providing much-needed financial support.
