ZAMFARA State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has disclosed that his administration has paid a total of ₦13,944,039,204.64 in gratuities owed to state pensioners from 2011 to 2023.
The governor made the announcement on Tuesday at the Government House while receiving the report of the joint committees on the payment of backlog gratuities. He also inaugurated the Contributory Pension Implementation Committee.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, on Tuesday, Lawal described the clearance of unpaid gratuities and pensions as a key achievement of his administration.
He said 3,824 beneficiaries from the state service received ₦7,960,162,598.64, while 4,833 retirees from the unified local government service were paid ₦5,983,876,606, bringing the total payout to nearly ₦14 billion.
“Our administration inherited over ₦13 billion in unpaid gratuities for state and local government retirees from 2011 to 2023. The delays caused hardship, and some retirees died waiting for their benefits. May their souls rest in peace,” the governor said.
He explained that his government formed two committees to review and recommend payments for the outstanding entitlements, emphasising that his administration prioritised the rights of civil servants who had served for 35 years or reached retirement age.
“When we assumed office two years ago, despite economic and social challenges, we paid three months of unpaid salaries and allowances to civil and public servants. We also settled unpaid allowances for judges and judiciary staff, which had been pending for years. We are now up to date on all these,” he added.
Lawal noted that when he assumed office, the state’s minimum wage was just ₦7,000. The ₦30,000 minimum wage signed into law in 2019 had not been implemented by his predecessor.
“Cognizant of our responsibility and duty to the state, we implemented the ₦30,000 minimum wage. And when it was reviewed to ₦70,000 in July 2024, we complied after due process. So, in my two years of administration, we increased the minimum wage from ₦7,000 to ₦70,000,” he stated.
He also highlighted the introduction of Sallah bonuses and the end-of-year productivity bonus, also known as the 13th-month salary, for all civil servants and public officeholders — a first in Zamfara’s history.
According to him, the prompt payment of backlog gratuities has restored civil servants’ confidence and renewed public trust in governance. He reiterated his administration’s readiness to partner with regulated pension fund organisations in line with the state’s ongoing pension reforms.
While inaugurating the Contributory Pension Implementation Committee, Lawal said the committee will work with the Ministry of Justice, the State Pension Commission, ZITDA, and other stakeholders to review and update the state’s pension laws.
“The committee will assess the ICT and staff training needs of the Pension Commission and develop a suitable transition strategy for switching from the current scheme to a Contributory Pension Scheme. This will include step-by-step implementation strategies to ensure strict compliance and a successful rollout,” he said.
The governor commended the efforts of the joint committee members for their dedication in executing the task and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pension reforms that will ensure timely and sustainable retirement benefits.
