The Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme Board has commenced the disbursement of N1.39 billion in terminal and death benefits to 560 retirees and the families of deceased civil servants.
The Executive Secretary of the Scheme, Dr. Bilyaminu Shitu Aminu, disclosed this during the disbursement ceremony held at the Pension House in Dutse.
According to him, a total of N1,389,857,763.37 is being paid as gratuities, death benefits and pension balances to beneficiaries drawn from the state civil service, local government councils and local education authorities.
He explained that the beneficiaries include workers who voluntarily retired, those who attained the mandatory retirement age, and the next of kin of employees who died while in active service.
A breakdown of the payments shows that 453 retirees will receive N1,101,443,426.68 as retirement benefits, while 90 families of civil servants who died in active service will receive N261,855,040.41 as death benefits.
Dr. Aminu added that the remaining 17 beneficiaries are the families of retirees who had begun receiving monthly pensions but died before completing the guaranteed minimum five-year pension period. They will receive a combined N26,559,296.28 as pension balance.
He said the Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme remains up to date in the payment of retirement benefits, death benefits and monthly pensions to eligible retirees across the state.
According to him, the prompt payment reflects the commitment of the state government to safeguarding the welfare and financial security of retired civil servants and the families of deceased employees.
The Executive Secretary commended Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi for his continued support and reforms aimed at strengthening the state’s pension administration.
Also speaking, the State Accountant General, Alhaji Abdullahi S.G. Shehu, disclosed that the Namadi administration has injected over N9 billion into the contributory pension scheme as a bailout since assuming office in 2023.
He said the intervention has significantly improved the financial health of the scheme, enhanced its sustainability and restored confidence among serving and retired civil servants.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Contributory Pension Scheme, Hon. Idris Aminu, praised the governor’s commitment to pension reforms, describing the Jigawa State and Local Governments Contributory Pension Scheme as one of the leading pension schemes in the country due to its record of timely payment of retirees’ entitlements.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the state government for the prompt payment, saying the funds would enable them to meet their financial obligations and improve their standard of living in retirement.
