Satisfied with the offset of N27 billion gratuity and death benefits, the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) vowed to deliver Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for a second term in office if he eventually declares to re-contest.
The labour unions equally applauded the commitment of Governor Yusuf to clear the entire N48 billion outstanding entitlement owed to pensioners by previous administrations.
National and state leaders of the two unions gave the commitment on Wednesday during the flag-off payment of the 5th tranche of retirees’ gratuity and death benefits, held at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano.
Governor Yusuf supervised the immediate electronic payment of N5 billion to over 500 beneficiaries, whose endless years of waiting for their entitlements finally ended.
Yusuf said over N27 billion has already been paid to the retirees, promising that his government is determined to clear the remainder of the N48 billion arrears in subsequent tranches.
He emphasized that the payment is part of efforts to restore the dignity of retired workers and alleviate the hardships faced by families of deceased civil servants.
Governor Yusuf also revealed plans to disburse N350,000 interest-free grants each to over 4,000 youths across the 44 Local Government Areas to enable them to establish small-scale businesses that will make them self-reliant and break the cycle of poverty.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Godwin Abumisi, commended Governor Yusuf for his kind gesture and urged pensioners in Kano State to massively support the second-term bid of the Governor in appreciation of his commitment to their welfare and well-being. He promised that pensioners will rally round the Governor to actualize his second-term ambition.
The former National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba P. Wabba, commended Governor Yusuf for his workers’-friendly posture and show of kindness to pensioners.
He assured Governor Yusuf that workers and pensioners in the state and across Nigeria are fully behind him, promising that they will reciprocate his kind gesture.
The Executive Chairman, Kano State Pension Fund Trustee, Habu Muhammad Fagge, confirmed that the Board had a backlog of N48 billion, out of which N27 billion has been paid.
