Governor Inuwa Yahaya clears inherited backlogs, bringing cumulative pension and gratuity payments to N44.134bn since 2019.
The Gombe State Government has commenced the payment of N10.32bn in gratuities to 6,665 state and local government retirees across the region.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya disclosed this development during the official launch of the sixth tranche of gratuity disbursements, a flagship welfare initiative active since 2019.
This landmark financial clearance settles outstanding state obligations up to December 2025, according to information published by NIGERIA.
Financial Breakdown of the N10.32bn Gratuity Release
The latest administration approval allocates N6.24bn specifically for state government retirees covering the active years 2024 and 2025.
Meanwhile, an additional N4.08bn was released to support local government councils in successfully clearing their long-standing gratuity backlogs.
Altogether, this massive financial intervention directly benefits 2,354 state government retirees and 4,311 local government retirees throughout the state.
Inherited Backlogs and Fiscal Discipline
When the administration assumed office in 2019, officials inherited a staggering N21bn gratuity backlog spanning multiple years.
Local government retirees had been owed from 2012 to 2019, while state retirees faced delayed payments stretching from 2014 to 2019.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted that prior councils previously borrowed N1.3bn monthly to pay basic salaries during severe economic downturns.
Overcoming Economic Shocks and Hardships
Despite numerous global and national economic shocks, prudent financial management ensured continuous support for retired public servants.
Economic headwinds included the COVID-19 pandemic, national recessions, the Russia-Ukraine war, fuel subsidy removal and naira flotation.
Prior to the latest disbursement, the administration had already paid a total of N33.283bn in cumulative gratuities to deserving workers.
Sustainable Reforms for Future Pension Payments
With the current N10.32bn payout, total gratuity payments made by the Gombe State Government since 2019 reached a historic N44.134bn.
Muhammadu Magaji, the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, praised the administration for transparent fiscal management.
The government is currently establishing a sustainable mechanism, such as contributory pensions, to prevent future accumulation of gratuity arrears.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Gombe State pay in the latest gratuity disbursement?
The Gombe State Government disbursed N10.32bn in gratuities to 6,665 state and local government retirees during the sixth tranche of payments.
Who is the current Governor of Gombe State?
Inuwa Yahaya serves as the Governor of Gombe State, leading efforts to clear inherited pension and gratuity backlogs since 2019.
What is the total cumulative gratuity paid by Gombe State since 2019?
With the latest N10.32bn payout included, the cumulative gratuity payments made by the Gombe State administration have reached N44.134bn.
How many retirees benefited from the recent Gombe gratuity payment?
A total of 6,665 retirees benefited, comprising 2,354 state government retirees and 4,311 local government retirees across the state.
