From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has approved the sum of N3.3 billion for the payment of gratuity and death benefits for 1,392 beneficiaries comprising civil servants both at local government, state services, and contract workers in the state.
The acting Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Safiyanu Garba-Bena, confirmed this while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
He said: “I am happy to report that we have received yet another approval to the tune of N3.3 billion for the payment of gratuity and death benefits for civil servants both local government and state services up to September 2022.
“The breakdown of the said amount covers, 587 state service beneficiaries amounting to N1.9 billion, and payment of 322 local government beneficiaries amounting to N761.8 million.
“Others are, payment of 302 LGEA beneficiaries amounting to N542.6 million, and payment for 181 verified-contract officers from 2019 to September 2022 amounting to N118.4 million,” he said.
Bena added that the committee he headed had received a list of 5,466 beneficiaries amounting to N15.4 billion out of which 4,898 were screened and verified for payment amounting to N13.5 billion.
According to him, the amount is in addition to the N20 billion paid as gratuity by the administration to cover the period 2015 to 2017.
Bena reiterated the avowed determination of the Bagudu-led administration to pay all gratuity benefits.
In his reaction, Kebbi State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Umar Halidu Alhassan commended the state government for the latest approval to settle the retired civil servants and death workers.
