Gov. Babagana Zulum on Friday presented cheques worth N5.81 billion for outstanding gratuities to retired civil servants and deceased workers’ families across Borno.
The cheques were presented during a ceremony at the Council Chamber, Government House, Maiduguri, before organised labour leaders and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners.
Zulum said the payment fulfilled his administration’s promise to prioritise retired workers’ welfare and support families of deceased civil servants facing economic hardship.
He disclosed that N2.99 billion would settle outstanding gratuities owed to deceased workers’ families, while N2.82 billion would clear pensioners’ gratuities up to December 2022.
The governor said the payment also covered outstanding gratuities owed to staff of the Borno State Housing Corporation from 2013 to date.
“In fulfilment of our campaign promises, we are presenting a cheque of about N5.81 billion to deceased and retired civil servants.
“We have quite a number of civil servants who have lost their lives, and their families are still battling with life’s challenges.
“We are presenting about N3 billion to the families of deceased civil servants so they can continue to live in peace and dignity.
“Apart from this, civil servants who retired in 2022 will now receive their gratuities in full, after which we shall move to those who retired in 2023,” he said.
Zulum described the latest disbursement as part of sustained efforts to clear inherited liabilities while ensuring retired workers received their long-awaited entitlements without unnecessary delays.
He said the state government had consistently released N200 million monthly to support gratuity payments as part of its commitment to pension obligations.
The governor recalled releasing N8 billion in 2025 for pensioners’ entitlements and teachers’ gratuities, alongside N12 billion disbursed in 2020 for about 5,000 retirees.
According to him, the earlier intervention benefited retired state and local government civil servants, demonstrating the administration’s determination to reduce outstanding pension liabilities.
Commissioner for Finance, Lawan Umar Dalorima, praised Zulum for sustaining workers’ welfare despite the financial pressures confronting the state government.
Dalorima said the payment reflected the administration’s determination to honour citizens who devoted their productive years to serving Borno faithfully.
He noted that fulfilling gratuity obligations remained essential to protecting retirees’ dignity and strengthening confidence in government’s commitment to public servants.
The Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Borno, Mamman Bukar, welcomed the payment and commended the governor for redeeming the outstanding gratuity obligations.
Bukar described the intervention as timely and impactful, saying it would ease hardship confronting pensioners and families of deceased civil servants across the state.
He added that the payment would strengthen workers’ confidence that government remained committed to fulfilling promises made to serving and retired employees.
Meanwhile, Zulum also assured local government workers that his administration remained committed to addressing challenges affecting their welfare and overall conditions of service.
He said government would soon engage representatives of local government employees to discuss practical measures aimed at improving their working conditions.
