The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has launched N5 billion second phase of retirement and death benefits.

The benefits cover entitlement of about 4,000 state and local government retirees.

In a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf highlighted the administration’s continuous commitment to addressing the needs of pensioners.

Recall that Governor Yusuf had unveiled initial disbursement of N6 billion in November 2023 to offset backlog of entitlement incurred by immediate past administration.

Upon assuming office in May 2023, Governor Yusuf inherited a pension system plagued by disorder and corruption, where illegal deductions and systemic irregularities left many pensioners without their entitled benefits.

Governor Yusuf while unfolding the second trenche disclosed that his government was compelled by the mercy condition of the retiress who have been denied their dues by Ganduje’s administration.

He said the NNPP government is poised to rectify the injustices meted against the innocent pensioners who were not paid gratuity for the eight years of Ganjude’s administration (2015-2023).

“The initial phase saw the successful allocation of N6 billion to settle the retirement gratuity and death benefits of 5,333 pensioners, including state and local government retirees and families of deceased civil servants.

” This second phase of N5 billion, dedicated and aimed to settling pension arrears for approximately 4,000 retirees.

“The administration has established stringent criteria to ensure equitable and transparent disbursement, benefiting individuals with gratuities and death gratuities ranging from N1.6 million to N6.9 million.

“To guarantee the implementation process’s integrity, a distinguished committee comprising representatives from the Pension Fund Trustees, the Sharia Court of Appeal, the Office of the Head of Civil Service, and other pivotal agencies has been formed”. He said.

Governor Yusuf reiterated the administration’s unwavering commitment to championing the interests of pensioners, emphasizing that pension and gratuity are fundamental rights, not privileges.

He underscored the state’s obligation to promptly fulfill its commitments to elderly retirees as promised during the election campaigns.

Illustrating this steadfast commitment, Governor Yusuf announced that monthly pensions are now disbursed on or before the 25th of each month, free from arbitrary deductions—a significant departure from past practices, highlighting transparency and accountability.

The National Union of Pensioners Recently recognized Governor Yusuf as the most Pensioners-Friendly Governor of the 2024 due to his commitment to the plight of pensioners.

Despite the rejection of Kano State Government on police decision to ban Sallah durbar during the Eidl Kabir festivities, the 16th Emir of Kano Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi went ahead to hold the Eid Durbar on his way back to his palace from the Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Mosque where he led the Eid Prayers.

It would be recalled that the Kano Emirate is in a serious tussle between 15th Emir Aminu Ado Bayero and Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

A Federal High Court in Kano has asked the state government to maintain status quo until the determination of the motion on notice filed but the governor went ahead to reinstate Sanusi Lamido after his dethronement by then Governor Abdullahi Ganduje whom the Emir worked against in the 2019 election.

The governor also rushed Sanusi to the Kano Emirate Place at Gidan Rumfa to stop the dethroned Emir from having access to the House despite giving him 48 hours to pack his belongings from the House.

The governor defied his own order and led Emir Sanusi to Gidan Rumfa on Saturday around 2 a.m. Within 24 hours, out of the 48 hours ultimatum, he gave the Emir to pack and leave the state.

One of the aides of Emir Bayero, who doesn’t want to be named, coinfided to this paper that some personal belongings of the Emir were stolen, some of which were inherited by him from his forefathers.

It was during the Eid Durbar by Emir Sanusi a group of angry youths stoned him on his way to his way to the palace just few hours after Governor Yusuf was booed on his way to the Eid Prayer at State Road.

It was reliably gathered that Sanusi was planning to partake in the Hawan Daushe on Monday, but his experience of what happened on Sunday stopped him from doing that.

“There was security threat, had it been the Emir partake in Hawan Daushe, the story could have been different, lives could have been lost as adequate security wasn’t in place to maintain law and order.

The police decided to ban both Emirs from holding durbar out of security concerns.

Even though Emir Bayero abides by the law to hold Eid Prayer at his Mini Palace as advised by the police, Emir Sanusi refused to abide by until when he saw the security threat by himself

The Police are vindicated now. ” A source who doesn’t want to be named told this paper.

The State Government has criticised the police for not taking orders of the governor as Chief Security Officer of the State.

Meanwhile, Senator Kwankwaso has yesterday issued a warning to the federal government that he is ever ready for a fight as the government is helping opposition in the state to breed Boko Haram.

Kwankwaso, who secured a court order last week to stop EFCC from his arrest, told newsmen that enemies of the state and the NNPP are doing everything possible to distract them from giving good governance to the people of Kano.

The FG is yet to respond to the allegations by Kwankwaso at the time of filing this report.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State was booed on his way to Kofar Mata Eid ground by a group of people who are believed to be supporters of Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.

The governor was booed in the presence of our reporter on State Road, adjacent to the Nassarawa Royal House, where Emir Bayero is meant to observe the Eid Prayer.

They were chanting. “Bamayi, Allah ya isa. We are not in support, and Allah is sufficient for us.”

Meanwhile, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was stoned by a group of youths near Festival Primary School, within Kano metropolis.

In a viral video, people were heard saying, “Jifa suke, jifa suke. meaning they are stoning, they are stoning. ”

In the same vein, the Emir was also stoned at Zage. It took the intervention of security agencies after shooting on air sporadically to disperse the protesters while the Emir was rushed back quickly to his palace.