Katsina Times | July 7, 2025
Governor Dauda Lawal has announced the payment of over ₦13.9 billion in gratuities owed to retired civil servants in Zamfara State, settling a backlog that dates back to 2011.
Speaking at the Government House in Gusau on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Contributory Pension Implementation Committee, Governor Lawal said a total of ₦13,944,039,204.64 has been disbursed to 8,657 verified retirees across both state and local government services.
According to details released by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the payments covered a total of 3,824 retirees from the State Civil Service who received ₦7.96 billion, while 4,833 retirees from the Unified Local Government Service were paid ₦5.98 billion.
Governor Lawal described the development as a major milestone in restoring trust in governance and improving the welfare of public servants in the state.
“Our administration inherited over ₦13 billion in unpaid gratuities for retirees from 2011 to 2023,” Lawal said. “These delays caused immense hardship, and unfortunately, some of the beneficiaries died before receiving their entitlements. May their souls rest in peace.”
He explained that two special committees were set up at the start of his tenure to verify claims and recommend payments. Since assuming office, he said the government had also cleared three months of unpaid salaries and judiciary allowances, implemented the long-delayed ₦30,000 minimum wage, and recently raised the minimum wage to ₦70,000 as of July 2024.
Additionally, Governor Lawal noted that his administration had introduced new welfare incentives for workers, including Sallah bonuses and a 13th-month productivity bonus — the first of its kind in Zamfara’s history.
While receiving the report on the gratuity payments, the governor expressed appreciation for the work done by the verification committees, saying the task was difficult but essential for civil service reform.
During the same event, Governor Lawal formally inaugurated the Contributory Pension Implementation Committee, which is expected to oversee the state’s transition to a new pension model. The committee will work with the Ministry of Justice, the Zamfara State Pension Commission, and other stakeholders to review existing pension laws, recommend necessary ICT upgrades, and propose a comprehensive strategy for adopting the contributory scheme.
“We are committed to sustainable pension reforms,” Governor Lawal said. “Our goal is to ensure that no retiree is left behind again.”
The state government said the new pension framework will be presented to the State House of Assembly in due course for legislative backing.
