Kano State Governor, Abba, Kabir Yusuf, began the payment of N6 billion in death benefits to deceased civil personnel and pensioner gratuities on Saturday.
Around 6,000 individuals who left the civil service and the families of those who died between 2016 and 2019 were among those who benefited.
Speaking at the event, the governor expressed delight at the payments’ implementation despite the state’s limited resources and competing developmental projects, crediting the payments to his administration’s efforts to eliminate all sources of public funds leakage in the state.
He acknowledged the plights of pensioners in the state, especially those at the lower level as they were the end recipients of the economic hardships occasion by the removal of fuel subsidy in the country.
The governor added that to clear the backlog of the liabilities, N10 billion was proposed in the state 2024 budget, which would cater for the cost of gratuity and death benefits to pensioners and the families of deceased civil servants.
He called on the beneficiaries to make judicious use of their money and invest wisely in lawful businesses for more incomes to cater for their day-to-day needs and other necessities of life.
The Executive Chairman of Kano State Pension Trustees Fund, Habu, Muhammad Fagge, lauded the governor for his efforts, saying they were clear indicators of his zeal to better the lives of pensioners and provide succour to the families of deceased civil servants.