Jigawa govt disburses over N700m to 281 retirees

The Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme Board has commenced disbursement of over 733 million naira as terminal and death benefits to over 280 retirees and relatives of deceased civil servants.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Bilyaminu Shitu Aminu, made this known while addressing the beneficiaries at the Pension House in Dutse, the state capital.

He explained that the payment includes gratuity, death benefit,t and death pension balance.

According to him, the 281 workers were the staff of state service, local government Councils, and local education authorities who voluntarily retired or reached retirement age or those who died in active service.

Dr. Bilyaminu Shitu further explained that over 542 million naira would be paid to 208 staff that had retired from service, while over 144 million naira would be disbursed to the 47 relatives of those who died in active service.

According to him, the last batch was beneficiaries of 26 retirees who retired from service and started receiving monthly pensions but died before reaching their minimum period of five years after retirement.

He said, over 47 million naira would be disbursed to the beneficiaries.

The Executive Secretary explained that the state had one of the best pension policies in the country because it was up to date in its payment of entitlements to its retirees, including those who died in active service.

Dr. Bilyaminu pointed out that, the scheme was up to date in the payment of monthly allowances to all retired civil servants across the state.

He said this significant milestone reflects the state government’s commitment to the welfare of its retirees and the importance of ensuring financial security for those who have served the State.

The Pension Boss said, the board remains committed to ensuring timely and efficient management of pension funds and looks forward to further innovations aimed at improving the welfare of its pensioners.

The disbursement ceremony, held at the Jigawa State Pension Scheme Board headquarters in Dutse, is part of the ongoing efforts to honor the hard work and dedication of civil servants upon their retirement.

The funds will provide much-needed support to the retirees, helping them to transition to post-service life with dignity and stability.

During the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State Contributory Pension Scheme Board expressed gratitude to Governor Malam Umar Namadi for his unwavering support.

Radio Nigeria reports that the beneficiaries, who have faithfully served in various capacities across the state and local government, expressed their gratitude for the timely release of funds.

They noted that the prompt payment of their benefits will enable them to meet their financial obligations and enhance their quality of life in retirement.

One of the most pressing issues retirees face in Nigeria is the delay or outright non-payment of pensions. Despite dedicating decades of service to the country, many retirees must wait months, even years, to receive their rightful entitlements.

State governments, in particular, are notorious for owing pensioners backlog payments, leaving many in dire financial straits. Some pensioners have resorted to protests, often seen marching the streets, demanding their due payments. Sadly, some pass away without ever receiving their pensions.

Nigeria transitioned from the old Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to address pension mismanagement. However, challenges persist, including irregular remittances by employers, corruption, and inefficiencies in the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). Retirees frequently struggle to access their funds due to stringent bureaucratic bottlenecks, further worsening their plight.

To alleviate the suffering of retirees, the government must prioritize pension reforms, ensuring timely and full payments of pensions. Strengthening the contributory pension system, expanding health insurance for retirees, and enforcing employer compliance in remittances are crucial steps.