Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has approved the immediate release of N3.8 billion to the Kaduna State Pension Bureau for the payment of gratuities, death benefits, and accrued rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The decision, made on compassionate grounds, comes after numerous pensioners and families of deceased civil servants expressed concerns over the negative impact of the ongoing verification exercise on their livelihoods.
During his directive on Monday, Governor Sani acknowledged the challenges faced by pensioners and their families and assured them that their welfare remained a priority. The verification exercise, which aimed to identify and remove “ghost” pensioners from the payroll, was implemented to protect the state’s resources. However, the governor recognized that it had caused undue hardship to those genuinely entitled to benefits.
“I have directed the Pension Bureau to immediately commence the payment of all outstanding pension benefits,” Governor Sani stated. He emphasized that the administration was committed to ensuring that all eligible pensioners received their entitlements without delay. “The senior citizens who dedicated their lives to serving the state deserve to live comfortably in retirement, and we will continue to support them,” he added.
In addition to this new directive, Governor Sani reassured pensioners that the verification exercise would be completed swiftly, allowing for uninterrupted monthly pension payments in the future. Since assuming office in May 2023, the governor’s administration has already paid out a total of N6.6 billion in gratuities, death benefits, and accrued rights, reflecting its commitment to addressing the welfare of retired civil servants.
The governor also expressed his gratitude to the pensioners for their patience and continued support of his administration as efforts to streamline the pension system continue.
