Bauchi State Government has sought the support of retired Permanent Secretaries to ensure prompt payment of gratuity to retired workers in the state.
Retirees in Bauchi groan over nonpayment of their gratuities after serving the state for 35 years.
Alhaji Yahuza Haruna, Bauchi State Head of Service said this on Tuesday in Bauchi.
The Head of Service said the support of the former Permanent Secretaries would assist the government to succeed in ongoing efforts towards addressing their plight notably the payment of gratuities.
He said the state government is working out modalities of looking at the best ways of addressing the demands made by the association considering their positive contributions to the progress and development of the state particularly in the civil service.
Read: Bauchi Police Apprehends 3 For Raping Minor, Housewife
The HoS pleaded with the association to bear with the state government due to the amount involved in the payment of their backlog of gratuity, and severance gratuity for about 150 members as efforts are on top gear now of addressing the issues once and for all.
“This Association to me is one of the most dynamic, I can’t count the number of their interventions on different matters of concern. As a senior colleague to me, my doors are open for your guidance, and support for our collective success in the task of repositioning the civil service.
“Discussions are ongoing now on three issues, the payment of severance gratuity, payment of backlog of gratuity, provision of vehicles and permanent office accommodation for the association. Also, the pension act signed by the Governor would go a long way in ending the non-payment of gratuities.”
Yahuza Adamu once again solicited the continued support of the retired permanent secretaries to the state government and his office in order to add value to the implementation of various reforms introduced for the best interest of the service.
In a welcome address, the Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Muhammadu Tata said the non-payment of some members’ gratuity and the erratic payment of some members’ pension were the common complaints in addition to the non-payment of severance gratuity for about 150 members which were of concern to the association.
“The idea of forming the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries Bauchi State came up as a result of a sensitization visit to Bauchi by the interim President of the National Association of States Retired Permanent Secretaries, Alhaji Daudu Umar Abdulsalam and his delegation in 2018. Members’ monthly dues started coming to the Association in July 2019 with a few hitches on the pension payroll system.
