The Bauchi State gratuities backlog for the state and local government areas (LGA) retirees has reached an alarming ₦42.3 billion naira currently.
Bauchi State and its LGAs have been in pension and gratuities crises since 2010 but the problem worsened from 2015.
The Executive Chairman of the Local Government Pension Board, Alhaji Umar Barau Ningi, at the ongoing ministerial briefing in Bauchi, noted that there are currently 11,422 retirees from the 20 LGAs.
Ningi further added that the government owes the retirees presently an accumulated N22.3 billion from the earlier N11.2 billion in 2019.
He said the Government has settled gratuities and death benefits of all retired personnel from 2010 to 2011 across the 20 LGAs.
Ningi, who explained that through physical verification the Board had removed all doubtful pensioners, disclosed that an additional 4,918 workers have retired from 2019 to date.
He earlier said 6,504 retirees were inherited from the previous administration, making the total number of retirees now at 11,422.
Ningi added the Bala Mohammed administration had settled N2 billion in outstanding gratuities from 2019-2023.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the State Pension Board, Sen. Bala Kariya estimated that the backlog of gratuity for retirees from the state civil service is around N20 billion.
He, however, said that the Board lacks precise information on the number of retired state personnel and the total debt being owed to them.
Senator Kariya argued that the Board is not responsible for paying gratuities and pensions hence the inability to provide accurate data.
He acknowledged delays in pension transitions for retired personnel, attributing these issues to file management by various ministries and departments.
The Chairman also denied knowledge of the state governor’s promise of providing N100 million monthly to reduce pension/gratuities debt.
He noted that this was the first he had heard of the promise and had never discussed it with the governor.
The chairman commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad’s leadership, highlighting that his developmental focus sets his administration apart.
In response to why Bauchi hasn’t adopted Kano State’s approach to settling gratuities, Senator Kariya pointed out that from 2019 to 2024, Bauchi state has paid over N3.4 billion in gratuities and pension arrears to retired civil servants.
The Chairmen assured pensioners that the governor is criticality scouting for more funds with a view to settling all the debts related to gratuities in the state.
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