The Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme Board has commenced the disbursement of N1,389,857,763.37 in terminal and death benefits to 560 retirees and families of deceased civil servants across the state.
The Executive Secretary of the scheme, Bilyaminu Aminu, disclosed this on Tuesday while addressing beneficiaries at the Pension House in Dutse, the state capital.
Aminu said the payment covers gratuities, death benefits and death pension balances for workers who either retired voluntarily, attained retirement age or died while in active service.
“Today we are paying a total of N1,389,857,763.37 to 560 beneficiaries drawn from the state service, local government councils and local education authorities,” he said.
He explained that N1,101,443,426.68 would be paid to 453 retired civil servants, while N261,855,040.41 had been earmarked for 90 relatives of workers who died while in active service.
According to him, the remaining N26,559,296.28 would be paid to the next of kin of 17 pensioners who died before completing five years after retirement.
“For this last category, we are paying N26,559,296.28 as balance of their entitlements to their next of kin,” Aminu said.
He assured beneficiaries that the contributory pension scheme remained up to date with the payment of retirement benefits and monthly pensions.
“We are also current with the payment of monthly pensions to all retired civil servants across the 27 local government areas of the state,” he added.
The executive secretary attributed the prompt payment to the commitment of Governor Umar Namadi to the welfare of pensioners and retired workers.
“I must extend our heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency, Governor Namadi, for his steadfast support and the transformative reforms he has initiated since assuming office,” he said.
Also speaking, the state Accountant General, Abdullahi Shehu, said the government had injected over N9bn into the pension scheme since 2023 to stabilise its operations.
“From 2023 to date, the government under Governor Namadi has injected over Nine Billion Naira to stabilise the scheme and build confidence among retiring workers,” Shehu said.
He noted that the intervention had strengthened the scheme and positioned it among the most viable contributory pension schemes in the country.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on the Contributory Pension Scheme, Idris Aminu, also commended the governor for prioritising the welfare of retirees.
“The Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme is now the foremost in the country because of timely payments to retirees and families of those who died in service,” he said.
He added that the government’s commitment was aimed at ensuring civil servants retire with dignity and financial security.
Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the prompt payment.
A retired local government worker, Yusuf Isiya, 62, said, “This payment has come at the right time. It will help me settle my debts and start a small business.”
A widow of a deceased teacher, Binta Sani, 53, said, “We are grateful to the government. This money will help us take care of our children and meet our basic needs.”
