One sector that suffered neglect corruption and malpractice during the recent past administration in Kano State under Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje was the pension .

Yes ,I use to frequent the Kano state pension Trustee Funds Office in Sokoto road to get update on pension and gratuity payment to the extent that I was well familiar with the former Chairman of the Board .

They always complain of lack of funds and non remittance of the deductions made from workers monthly salaries by various state ministries ,Agencies and Departments.

NLC and the Nigerian Union of pensioners became my friends .As my former working place NTA Kano use to refer any report in that aspect to me for coverage .To be sincere and frank the situation was very bad .

Retirees were always seen begging for even a part payment of their gratuity to settle their pressing needs ,even though pension was regularly paid on monthly basis immediately after retirement.

This situation put so much pressure on retired workers who must of them are aged unlike me who leave service at less than forty .

I have to use this opportunity to salut the recent effort of governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State for providing additional five billion naira ,beside the six billion provided last year to settle the pension backlog.

This is commendable as many families will exprience better life , many failed to marry up their daughters ,pay rents,School fees and hospital bills due to non payment of their entitlements after spending morethan 30 years serving their father land .

Governor Abba please continue to provide more funds for pensions,it will sanitize the wealth of Kano State and make your government more impactful .

Abba Hamisu Sani is the National Coordinator Society for Patriotic Journalism.
Email : timebasetv@gmail.com

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.

Alhaji Abdulaziz Ahmad, the former President of the Nigerian Youth Organisation and Chiroman Sumaila, has urged Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf not to destroy his lineage as the son of Emir Ibrahim Dabo.

The former President of the Nigerian Youth Organisation and Chiroman Sumaila, Abdul Aziz Ahmad, stated this while addressing newsmen in Kano.

Ahmad said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf should maintain the integrity of his family, noting that the Governor is the grandson of Galadiman Kano Yusuf, who is the son of Emir Ibrahim Dabo.

Ahmad said that in Kano, there is no politician that matches Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s family background because he is from royalty, and he shouldn’t destroy the royalty from which he comes.

Ahmad added that what brought Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to prominence and eventually to the governorship is the popular will, and he shouldn’t allow that to undermine his political popularity.

According to him, Governor Abba should allow due process to take its course in the Kano Emirate crisis.

On the issue of godfatherism, he said even if it’s Governor Abba’s political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is causing him to bring crisis to the emirate, he should note that Almighty Allah will not question Kwankwaso on the day of judgment; he will be questioned.

He said there is no offense that warrants the removal of the 15th Emir of Kano. He also called for the people to remain calm until the court decides on the current Emirate tussle.