Niger State government has approved N500m in funding, the first group of 452 retirees in the state.
Governor Umaru who was represented by the deputy governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba handed over the cheques in a ceremony, said that workers who retired more than 20 years ago were among the beneficiaries.
“We are here with Joy and mixed feelings because, since 2003, about 21 years, the first person on this list retired. I believe even a child born in that year is an adult now, so why will the person rejoice for something delayed for 21 years,” he said.
He added that the government has implemented a payment plan that gave priority to people who retired first in the payment schedules based on the retirement date and year.
Garba assured the workers that N500m would be distributed to each batch, and that the number of recipients would vary according to the amount that must be given to each recipient, stating that pension arrears remain outstanding and will be properly handled.
He said, “It is not free money. It is your right, and it is a continuous process. The issue of pension has suffered setbacks, and we have made laws not implemented.”