An unnamed retired civil-servant pensioner has tragically lost his life after bribing a state government official to expedite the release of his entitlement.
The pensioner, desperate to cover his daughter’s wedding expenses, was allegedly coerced by officials to surrender one-third of his gratuity for a timely payment.
The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, disclosed this harrowing story, while speaking at the launch of a N6bn gratuity and death benefits disbursement for over 5,000 pensioners.
“The pensioner got his daughter’s wedding prolonged unnecessarily because of his financial inability. He sought his retirement benefits in the previous administration but they demanded that he must pay one-third of his gratuity,” the governor said.
“He struggled and provided the amount but still, he was denied his right. That is how he got a heart attack and died. Today we paid his heirs his entitlements.”
The deceased pensioner, seeking his retirement benefits in the previous administration, struggled to meet the officials’ demand but was unjustly denied his entitlement. The financial strain led to a heart attack, ultimately claiming his life.
Pointing fingers at the past administration, Governor Yusuf criticised their insensitivity to the struggles of retirees. He emphasised the daunting pension liability inherited by his administration and lamented the unfortunate fate of pensioners who passed away without receiving their gratuities.
As the governor vows to address the inherited challenges of faced by retirees in Kano State, this tragic incident underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect the rights and well-being of pensioners in the state.
