The Executive Governor of Taraba state, Arc Darius Ishaku has approved the release of a monthly sum of N100, 000,000 to settle the inherited backlog of liabilities in respect of gratuities and terminal pensions of retired and deceased civil servants of the state civil service and the local government councils.
Frontline news exclusively gathered that the monthly releases and payment has been ongoing for the past eight (8) months, and done strictly in order of dates of letters of approvals for award of gratuity and pension. This has so far, summed up the sum of N800,000,000(eight hundred million naira) released and paid out to beneficiaries in order of dates of retirements and approvals respectively.
Gov Ishaku directed that the monthly short-listing and payments to beneficiaries must follow due process in the sphere of "first-come-first-serve", so as to stampede on any iota of undue influence and god-fatherism and usher in equity and objectivity in the entire exercise.
Mr Simon Angyu, the Taraba State Head of Service said, this standing directive of Gov Ishaku has guided the payment exercise of this laudable intervention and would be sustained until the entire liability is settled. Angyu lauded Gov Ishaku's prompt intervention on the backlog of pensioners and advised other retirees who are yet to be captured to wait for their time as subsequent monthly releases keeps trickling in.
Speaking through the Executive Secretary Local Government Staff Pension Board, Mal. Ahmed Inuwa, who said that upon the emergence of Gov Ishaku administration, it met 1288 local government pensioners with considerable backlog who were yet to be enrolled. But Ishaku led administration in its usual timely, but diplomatic approach to civil matters swung into action after the general Staff Biometric Exercise of the state/local government workers, and enrolled the redundant 1288 pensioners, and additional 268 pensioners who are currently receiving their monthly pensions and terminal gratuities. Such an intervention that has never been witnessed by any of the previous administration in the state.
The NLC boss, Taraba chapter, Rev. Comrade, Peter Gambo corroborated the statement made by the Head of Service and called on other civil servants in the state to appreciate Gov Ishaku for the kind gesture. He also said he was authoritatively informed that some cheques are left abandoned after several calls on beneficiaries to come collect, but to no avail. In Gambo's word "We sincerity appreciate Gov Ishaku for his kind gesture. This is what we've been crying for. And l am happy to see senior citizens receiving their cheques. In fact, what pleases more is the 'first-come-first-come' method adopted by the Governor. I want to use this medium to call on other pensioners whose cheques are left uncollected to come before the government decides otherwise".
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