Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has approved and released over N3.4 billion for the payment of death and retirement benefits to 1,331 workers in the state.
According to a statement issued by the acting Executive Secretary, Alhaji Nasiru Haruna, of the Jigawa State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme Board, Mr. Ismaila Ibrahim, the board has already commenced payment to the beneficiaries.
The statement explained that the N3.4 billion will be disbursed to those who exited from active service on reaching thirty-five years of service between January and July of this year, as well as to those who passed away while in active service.
The retirees were from various departments within the state and local governments, and they were categorized into four groups.
The first batch of 1001 retired staff, which includes those who retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 35 years in service or sixty years by birth, were paid N2,579,605,965.12 Billion.
“The second category of 241 staff are those who died while in active service, where their relations would be paid the sum of N730,367,087.60 million, while the third batch consist of 84 retirees who retired from service and started receiving monthly pension but died before reaching their minimum period of five years after retirement. Those people would be paid N109, 561, 313. 67 million”.
The executive secretary noted that “batch was beneficiary who did not contribute up to a period of five years, and the law stated that for every staff to qualify to be paid from the scheme was for him to contribute for a minimum period of five years”.
“Under this category, we have paid one person, the sum of N2,705,459.02 million including 15% interest, Nasoro emphasis.
“The total payment of the retirement, death benefits, death pension balance and refund of eight percent contribution is the sum of N3,422,239,826.32 to 1,331 workers that retired/died from various State MDAs, LGCs and LGEAs”.
The acting Executive Secretary warned the retirees to desist from involving a third party in processing their retirement benefits.
“The Pension Board did not, in whatever way, ask a third party to facilitate and or receive any amount from retiree before their payments are done, our services are free; never bribe any of our staff for your terminal benefits, as we worked under guidelines establishing our Board in line with consonant of Pension regulations.”
“If any person ask for money within and outside the pension house to process your payment, is a fraud and should be reported to the Board for a necessary penalty,” Haruna told the retirees.
“The pension Board process payment of retirees immediately after the Directorate of Salary and Pension Administration forwards the particulars of the retiring workers to the pension Board” he added.
Alhaji Nasiru Haruna commended, Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi for releasing the sum of N3.422billion to Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme Board to settled outstanding Gratuities and death benefit to 1,331 retirees in the State.
