Niger Pensions Board Reaffirms First-Come, First-Serve Policy for Retirees Gratuity Payments

The Niger State Pension Board has reaffirmed its commitment to a strict “first-come, first-served” principle for disbursing gratuities to state retirees, in line with directives issued by Executive Governor,  Mohammed Umar Bago.

Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony for the issuance of cheques to benefiting retirees at the Pension Board headquarters in Minna, the Director General of the Board, Alhaji Nasiru Saidu Namaska, outlined the operational guidelines governing the ongoing disbursement process.

Namaska emphasized that beneficiary lists are compiled serially using retirees’ designated Retirement Benefit (RB) numbers. He assured retirees that this structured and transparent approach would remain the standard operating procedure.

“You will see that most of the list is followed serially according to your RB number,” Namaska stated. “We are going to continue like this up to 2026. We want to assure you that we are going to adhere strictly to the issue of first-come, first-served,”he said.

Addressing concerns regarding potential omissions on the disbursement schedule, the Director General directed affected individuals to log their details with the designated officer for administrative follow-up.

“Those whose names have been skipped can register their names with Mr. Shaka so that we can follow it up and ensure they make the next batch,” Namaska explained.

He said the Pension Board issued strict guidelines on documentation and representation for deceased retirees’ entitlements to prevent fraud and ensure equitable distribution among heirs.

A valid Letter of Administration is strictly required before any cheque can be released to a representative or next-of-kin.

Individuals may not collect cheques on behalf of other siblings without physical legal representation or full family attendance.

For extended family claims, all parties involved must either be present at the collection point or represented by a legal practitioner who will handle the necessary legal documentation.

Verified family witnesses must be present to ensure full transparency in the disbursement of funds.

In line with the state administration’s commitment to open governance, Namaska confirmed that the official list of beneficiaries has been made available to the press for public verification.

“We are operating a transparent process; we have nothing to hide,” Namaska stated. “Whoever wants to have the list can have it and verify.”