Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina State has approved the release of N21.7 billion as retirement benefits and workers death gratuities in the state and local government service.
This is contained in a statement issued by the State’s Commissioner of Information and Culture, Dr Bala Salisu-Zango, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Falalu Bawale, on Friday.
Salisu-Zango quoted Bawale to have announced this at the inaugural meeting of the committee set up by the government to organise and arrange the disbursement.
Bawale said that the funds would be used to settle workers at the state, local government service, as well as Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
According to him, the funds were intended to clear all outstanding retirement and death benefits from September 2023 to October 2025.
“The approval is aimed at eliminating backlogs and improving welfare for retired workers and the families of deceased workers.
“N7.7 billion approved for the payment of retirement and death gratuities to former civil servants of the state will be a one-off payment to be paid in December 2025.
‘‘Over N14 billion approved for the former staff of local governments and the local education authorities will be paid in trenches within the period of four months.
“This will start from December 2025 to March 2026,’’ he said.
Recall that the governor had earlier approved the release of over N23 billion to settle backlogs of workers deaths and retirement benefits from January 2019 to August 2023.(NAN)
