Borno pensioners commend Zulum for prompt payment of pensions, gratuities

The State Exercise Council Members (SEC) and Local Government Councils Executives and registered members of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), Borno State Chapter, have commended Governor Babagana Zulum, for alleviating the plight of pensioners through prompt payment of their pensions and gratuities.

They gave the commendation while expressing their gratitude during the union’s meeting of the executives and members from the 3 zonal offices and 27 branches from the local government areas which took place in Maiduguri over weekend.

The State Chairman of NU, Comrade Musa Alhaji Bukar, in his welcome address, said that despite the substantial funds spent on managing security challenges, Governor Zulum has remained focused and committed to the welfare of citizens, particularly in the prompt payment of pensions, salaries, and gratuities.

Comrade Bukar noted that the governor’s directive to increase the monthly fund for outstanding gratuities for state retirees from one hundred million (N100 million) to two hundred million (N200 million) has significantly improved the lives and families of many, contributing to economic development.

The NUP Chairman also said that Governor Zulum had paid 50% pension arrears to 1,115 state retirees for the years 2021 to 2022 last year, in addition to clearing pension outstanding arrears of 534 retirees across the 27 local government areas.

He highlighted that the payment of 25% gratuity to 500 primary school teachers, the settlement of gratuities for Local Government retirees, the continuous payment of monthly pensions without delay, the resolution of 25% payments to late cases in the state, and the clearance of 399 outstanding pension arrears to the primary school board represent significant progress.

Bukar also applauded the swift approval and release of billions of naira and encouraged the government to continue its support by reviewing pensions to help retirees cope with the rising cost of goods and services in the state.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank you all for honoring this invitation. It is an occasion for us to meet and discuss our achievements and the way forward,” said Comrade Bukar.

“On behalf of the NUP in Borno, I commend Governor Babagana Zulum for his dedication to improving the retirees’ plight through prompt payment of pensions and gratuities.

“We greatly appreciate Governor Zulum for the increased payments of outstanding gratuities to our state retirees, which has transformed many lives and families towards economic development,” He added.

The Chairman urged the state government not rest on its laurels but to come to the aid of pensioners by adjusting pensions to help those with minimal funds withstand the inflation of goods and services in the state.

The unions communiqués issued at the end of the NUP meeting also call on other state governors to emulate Governor Zulum in addressing the plight of the retired citizens while also calling on the retired and serving civil servants to continue to foster unity among their members.