Kwara gov’t settles over N40bn pension, N28bn gratuity arrears

The Kwara State Government has cleared N40 billion in pension arrears and over N28 billion in gratuities dating back to 2008.

This was disclosed in Ilorin by the State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuhu, during a capacity-building training session for personnel implementing the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) 2.0 programme.

Dr. Nuhu explained that all inherited pre-2019 salary and pension backlogs across both state and local government levels have been fully paid.

She highlighted that the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq prioritizes workers’ welfare, pointing out that following the implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage, the state introduced the N70,000 minimum wage with consequential adjustments in 2024.

She further noted a 30 percent peculiar allowance introduced in 2025 raised the effective minimum wage to approximately N91,000.

Dr. Nuhu noted that while the administration inherited substantial salary, pension, and gratuity arrears alongside weak financial controls and low public trust in government finances, it has made remarkable progress through disciplined fiscal management and sustained structural reforms.

“The administration has also implemented 100 percent CONMESS and CONHESS for eligible health-sector professionals, while undertaking reforms to strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public financial management,” she said.

She added that key milestones include the full adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), the regular publication of budget performance reports, and the continued digitization of financial management systems.

According to Dr. Nuhu, these institutional reforms support the government’s people-centred agenda and its commitment to the objectives of NG-CARES 2.0.

She explained that the initiative serves as an essential framework for reducing poverty, broadening social safety nets, expanding livelihood opportunities, and building economic resilience among vulnerable households.

She commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his consistent support of NG-CARES 2.0, particularly the prompt release of funds to various delivery platforms, which facilitated the training exercise.

Urging participants to maximize the session through active engagement, Dr. Nuhu emphasized that the knowledge acquired must yield measurable results in the field.

“Every beneficiary represents a real household, a family, and a human story. Our responsibility goes beyond administering interventions; we are delivering hope, restoring dignity, reducing vulnerability, and creating opportunities for our people,” Dr. Nuhu said.

She stressed the necessity of accurate beneficiary identification, strict compliance with operating guidelines, and prudent resource management to ensure every naira generates tangible impact.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Ronke Arinde, described the workshop as timely and pivotal to the effective rollout of NG-CARES 2.0 across the state.

Dr. Arinde observed that the success of the initiative relies heavily on the competence, integrity, and dedication of frontline implementation personnel.

She underscored the need to routinely update and expand the State Social Register to guarantee that relief packages reach the most deserving citizens.

She maintained that all interventions must be rigorously planned, executed, and documented to track verified outcomes and satisfy the criteria for ongoing programme participation and funding reimbursements.

Dr. Arinde praised Governor AbdulRazaq for fostering an enabling environment for the state’s involvement in the scheme and acknowledged the contributions of the State CARES Steering Committee, the State CARES Coordinating Unit (SCCU), technical delivery teams, and partner organizations.

The training programme is designed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of NG-CARES 2.0 operational frameworks and enhance their competencies in data capture, beneficiary assessment, monitoring, reporting, and service delivery.