Femi Mustapha
The Executive Secretary of Kaduna State Pension Bureau, Professor Salamatu Idris Isah, said the Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Mallam Nasir El-rufai has ensured that transparency and accountability is the order of the day in the processing and payment of pensions in the state.
She asserted this when she received members of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group (TWG) on Social Protection, in her office.
The ES said she was posted to the Bureau with a mandate from the Governor to ensure total clean up of the old ways associated with corrupt pensions practices
and pave new method for the payment.
She expressed delight over the team visit, noting that dialogue between government and citizens would foster inclusive development, while explaining that the State Governor, Nasir El-rufai recently approved N1.2 billion for gratuity and death benefits for State and local government retirees and families of deceased beneficiaries.
According to her, N1,035,000,000 was allocated for retirees and families of the deceased in the 23 councils, saying that was the 14th payment schedule under council gratuity for retirees and next-of-kins’ beneficiaries.
Prof Isah added that N2 billion was from the 16th batch of state gratuity and death benefits in Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
She explained that shortlisted names of beneficiaries of the batch 14th of council and batch 16th of the state were placed on its social media handles at the Pension Bureau and other zonal offices of councils.
Prof Isah refuted rumours that seven councils have paid their outstanding gratuities and death benefits under the DBS.
According to her, the bureau only announced Kudan council was the first to have settled its liability as of March 3.
She, however, said the security challenges in some local government Area has stalled the verification processes.
Speaking earlier, Mr Philip Yatai, the Citizens Co-Chair, said that Kaduna state as an OGP state recently added Social protection commitments in the action.
He explained that Social protection is about upholding human dignity and promoting the overall wellbeing of individuals amidst socioeconomic adversity.
Mr. Yatai said the team was in the
Pension Bureau to interface with the leadership on how Government and Citizen can work together to alleviate the plight of the pensioners because, some of them now falls under poor and vulnerable.