Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has approved the release of N8 billion for the payment of pensions in the state, targeting the clearance of part of the huge arrears inherited from past administrations.
The Permanent Secretary of the state pension board, Mr Mohammed Usman, confirmed the development to Saturday PUNCH on Friday. According to him, N5 billion of the approved funds will go to state pensioners, while N3 billion has been allocated for local government pensioners.
“Before the present administration took over the mantle of leadership, there were huge pension arrears that were not paid. Throughout the four years of former Governor Jibrilla Bindow, pension was not paid for even one month, so this has accumulated to a huge amount of money, but from all indications, the Fintiri government will pay all the arrears,” Usman stated.
He further explained the rules guiding pension benefits, noting that “If you reach retirement age and you die before retirement, you are paid for five years, but if you have started benefiting from your pension and you die before five years, the remaining years are calculated and paid. If you enjoy your pension for five years and you die, there is nothing for you again, because you have exited the window of the grace of five years.”
Speaking on the situation of many pensioners, Usman revealed that some receive as little as N2,500 monthly. He added that pensioners also benefit from salary increments, but the adjustment depends on the grade level at retirement. “Pensioners enjoy a salary increment also, but if the grade level you retired is too low, the increment will not be much. I believe that before the end of Fintiri’s administration, all the pension arrears will be clear,” he said.
