Guardian

PENSIONERS and retired councils’ staff in Borno State have now cause to smile, as Governor Kashim Shettima, on Friday, raised a 12-member committee to pay them, after the committee’s verification exercise in 27 council areas of the State.

The sum of N500 million has already been released for the payment.

Inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Maiduguri, Shettima said, “the task before you is to verify all the outstanding pensions and gratuities of retired staff in the 27 Local Government Areas of the State, in accordance to the State’s Civil Service Rules and Regulations and make the necessary payment.”

He informed that the committee has three weeks to complete the verification and payments exercise.

“I have heard a lot about some of our fathers and uncles, who retired decades ago, but are yet to get their legitimate entitlements for one reason or the other.

With the setting aside of half a billion Naira for their pension and gratuities, they will all get their money.”

Responding, the Borno State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Babakaka Bashir Garbai, who is the chairman of the panel, said the payments exercise will be concluded before the end of June.