Niger Govt resumes payment of gratuities to State, LG retirees

Niger Government has resumed the payment of gratuities to retired State and Local Government workers as part of efforts to clear outstanding liabilities and improve the welfare of pensioners.

This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Minna by Mr Yunusa Ibrahim, Director of Information Services, Ministry of Information and Orientation.

The statement said the exercise reflected the commitment of Gov. Umaru Bago’s administration to ensuring that retired public servants receive their gratuities and other retirement benefits.

According to the statement, gratuities have been paid up to batch 11 for state government retirees, while payment for batch 12 will commence immediately.

It added that the payment of batch three gratuities for local government retirees would also resume as part of the government’s efforts to gradually clear outstanding gratuity arrears.

The statement said the administration had continued to sustain the prompt payment of monthly pensions, while steadily offsetting gratuity liabilities owed to retirees across the state.

It commended the Director-General of the Niger Pension Board, Alhaji Nasiru Namaska, alongside the management and staff of the board, for ensuring a transparent and seamless payment process.

The statement also said the Ministry of Information and Orientation would continue to keep the public informed on government policies and programmes to promote transparency and effective communication.

It appreciated retirees for their patience and understanding and urged beneficiaries to cooperate with the Niger Pension Board to ensure a smooth and hitch-free payment exercise, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to their welfare.