Gombe Opens New Gratuity Payment Round for Thousands of Retired Workers
Gombe has opened another round of retiree payments, covering 6,665 former state and council workers with a combined N10.32bn.
Thousands of retired public workers in Gombe State are set to receive outstanding benefits under a new payment round announced by Governor Inuwa Yahaya's administration.
The exercise covers 6,665 former employees across the state and local government systems, with a combined N10.32bn allocated for the current phase. Of that amount, N6.24bn has been assigned to 2,354 former state government workers whose outstanding entitlements relate to 2024 and 2025.
A further N4.08bn is being directed to 4,311 local government retirees. The payment forms part of the administration's continuing effort to reduce older gratuity obligations accumulated across the state's public service.
Yahaya said his government met substantial unpaid retirement liabilities when it assumed office in 2019. He put the inherited amount at about N21bn and said some local government obligations dated back to 2012, while unpaid benefits involving state-level retirees stretched back to 2014.
The governor also said local councils had previously depended on monthly borrowing of about N1.3bn between 2013 and 2019 to meet salary commitments. He presented the current gratuity exercise as part of a wider effort to improve public-sector finances while gradually addressing obligations to former workers.
According to figures provided by the government, N33.283bn had already been paid in gratuities before this latest round. Adding the current allocation brings the administration's cumulative gratuity payments to N44.134bn.
Yahaya said the newest disbursement clears outstanding state government gratuity obligations up to December 2025. Payments arising from January 2026 are expected to be considered early in 2027.
The state is also examining longer-term measures intended to prevent new retirement arrears from accumulating. Options under consideration include a contributory pension arrangement and possible deductions from the state's Consolidated Revenue Fund to support future obligations.
Separately, N299m has been approved for former employees of the dissolved Gombe Investment and Property Development Company. The government has also approved payments for former local government chairmen and councillors with outstanding gratuity claims.
Yahaya further said the state has implemented the new minimum wage as well as CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures for health workers. He added that public-sector recruitment has continued, including the hiring of 1,000 teachers, more than 440 health workers and additional staff for other government institutions.
Finance and Economic Development Commissioner Muhammadu Magaji described the latest exercise as part of the government's responsibility to former public servants who completed their careers in state service.