By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Government has disclosed that so far, a total sum of N2.369b has been paid as gratuities to 1,285 retired civil Servants at both State and LG levels since the commencement of payment for the 2012 and 2013 retirees.
The disclosure was made by the Disbursement Committee saddled with the responsibility of the payment which began two weeks ago, as the second phase of the payment exercise begins on Monday, October 12, 2026.
The Executive Secretary of PENCOM, Ibrahim Inuwa, leading a press conference on Sunday at the Government House, disclosed that at the close of the first phase last Friday, a total of 243 retirees have not come forward to claim their cheques.
According to him, the government had validated retirees from 2012 to 2016, while payments had so far covered the 2012 and 2013 batches, urging those affected but yet to come, to use the opportunity of the second trench to appear and collect their cheques.
Speaking to clarify the situation, a member of the gratuity payment committee, who is leading payment for LG retirees, Muhammad Kabir Sizwe, said a total of 1,528 retirees were expected to benefit from the first phase comprising 377 state government retirees and 1,151 local government retirees.
He explained that 1,285 retirees completed the process, including 293 state retirees and 992 local government retirees, however, 243 beneficiaries did not appear for the exercise which included 84 state retirees and 159 local government retirees.
Giving account, the Committee said about N351 million remains available for the outstanding beneficiaries pointing out that of the amount, approximately N147 million is reserved for the 84 state retirees, while N204.104 million is set aside for the 159 local government retirees.
The committee urged the affected retirees to come forward and complete the process.
Another committee member who is taking charge of the State retirees, Kola Oyerinde, said the second phase would cover retirees from the 2014 batch.
He disclosed that 583 state retirees were scheduled for processing as the beneficiaries are expected to report on their assigned dates, beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday.
The Committee further clarified that the sum of N10b has been set aside for the exercise debunking rumours that only N3b was approved for the exercise assuring all those verified and validated for payment between 2012 to 2016 will be paid.
However, those with outstanding payments from the previous batches may report on any day during the exercise.
The committee said the exercise would run for five days, including Saturday, while Sunday would be excluded urging the retirees who cannot travel because of health challenges to contact the relevant authorities for assistance.
Relatives of deceased retirees were also advised to follow the required legal procedures before collecting their entitlements.
