By Adeleye Kunle
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has announced that his administration has begun paying out gratuities to retired civil servants. He went on to say that the gratuities had accumulated over a 26-year period.
Sule stated this over the weekend in Akwanga at a Mada Development Association meeting (MDA).
According to him, from 1996 to 2003/2004, his administration cleared retired civil servants’ gratuities.
He stated that his administration used World Bank funds obtained through the State’s Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) program to pay the gratuities and pensions of state and local government retirees.
“Up to that point (2003/2004), all gratuities had been paid.” “We have maintained pension payments at the state and local government levels,” he said.
Governor Sule recalled that for over 53 months before he took office, pensioners at the local government level received approximately 50% of their monthly pension, but barely a month after taking office, he took pragmatic steps to ensure they received 100% of their pensions.
“In the first month of my administration, we began plugging leakages so that we could generate enough funds to pay them 100%,” he said.
He stated that Nasarawa State has continued to receive funds for critical infrastructure development, owing primarily to the administration’s efforts to reduce excessive theft of public funds, increase transparency, and accountability in governance.
“Many people are equating the projects we are currently carrying out with politics.” Previously, we lacked funds to carry out these projects, but now that we have stopped most leakages and our IGR has increased from $7 billion to $16 billion, thanks to interventions from NEWMAP and others, Nasarawa State now has funds to carry out projects,” he said.
He stated that his administration has asked the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, to allow the Abuja-Lafia Expressway to pass through the heart of Akwanga, and that the state is willing to foot the bill.
He stated that a portion of the N9.75 billion Lafia Airport refund will be used to build the Nunku/Rinze/Agyaga, Bayan Dutse rural roads, and complete the Gudi/Moroa Road.
The Chun Mada, Samson Gamu Yare, bemoaned the security challenges confronting Akwanga Local Government Area, urging stakeholders to prioritize security.
The royal father condemned some hoodlums’ actions, promising that the traditional council will work with relevant agencies to rid the council of bad elements.
“We will never turn Akwanga into a haven for criminals or hoodlums.” “Whoever is not ready for peace should go somewhere else,” the Chun Mada said.
