A total of 2,204 civil servants in Gombe State who worked and retired between 2019 and 2020 at the state level are set to receive a sum of N4.205 billion as gratuity.
The amount has been approved by the Gombe State Executive Council (SEC) during its meeting held on Monday, which was presided over by the State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
This was announced by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau, during a press briefing following the State Executive Council meeting.
Dr. Jatau explained that the approval followed the successful clearance of the 2014-2018 backlog of gratuities, amounting to over N13 billion, which benefitted 5,658 retirees at the state level and 6,027 retirees at the local government level.
He further disclosed that since its inception, the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya has settled gratuities for retired civil servants at both the state and local government levels, totaling N17.235 billion.
The Deputy Governor described the administration’s commitment to consistent gratuity payments and overall retirement benefit settlements as a rare benchmark, contrasting it with the neglect often displayed by political actors toward retirees nationwide.
Speaking on infrastructure, the Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transport, Engr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, revealed that the Council approved N31.547 billion for the construction of an underpass to connect Yemi Osibanjo Road with the Central Business District (CBD) and the State Secretariat, as well as the construction of an 18.1-kilometer road network within the area.
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The Commissioner explained that the approval was prompted by the anticipated increase in traffic once the CBD becomes operational. He disclosed that the contract, awarded to Triacta Nigeria, has a 20-month completion timeline.
He assured the public that ongoing work at the CBD is progressing as planned and will be delivered on schedule.
The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Malam Muhammad Gambo Magaji, spoke about the approval of the Gombe State 2025 Business Enabling and Regulatory Action Plan (BERAP).
According to him, the plan is a prerequisite for implementing the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), a World Bank program aimed at improving the business environment in participating states.
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The Commissioner noted that Gombe State’s continuous investment in security and pro-business policies has fostered a stable, productive, and competitive environment for businesses to thrive.
The Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Kasimu Abdullahi, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for fulfilling his promise to clear all gratuity backlogs before leaving office.
He urged civil servants to reciprocate the gesture by demonstrating greater commitment to their duties.
The Head of Service also advised retirees to make prudent use of their entitlements to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the state’s economic growth, as stated in a release by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe.
