The Jigawa State Government has provided an explanation for the delay in the payment of retirement benefits, which lasted for over seven months. According to the government, this delay was necessary to review and strengthen the pension scheme.
During a press briefing after the payment of over two billion naira to 746 retirees, Alhaji Kamilu Aliyu Musa, the executive secretary of the Jigawa State Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme, shared these insights.
Recall that Governor Umar Namadi had previously set up a committee of experts to investigate the cause of the long delay in the payment of retired civil servants in the state.
Musa highlighted one of the primary reasons that impacted the pension scheme’s payment process—over-retirement from the state civil service.
He stated, “The employment gap over the years has severely affected the scheme as the number of retired civil servants exceeds the available funds.”
Musa further mentioned that the issue had been reported to the former governor of the state, Gov Badaru Abubakar, near the end of his tenure. As a result, Abubakar formed a committee, which was later inaugurated by Gov Namadi after the election, to specifically address this problem.
He added, “The committee’s report includes an identification of the scheme’s problems and recommendations for solutions. Going forward, the scheme will ensure that retirement benefits are paid promptly, either as they become due or on a quarterly basis.”