The Borno state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has applauded Governor Babagana Zulum to clear bag logs of 4,862 retirees’ gratuities and pensions. According to NLC, the cleared workers’ pensions cover from 2013 to 2017 financial years of retirements from State’s civil service. While commending the offsets of gratuities Thursday in Maiduguri, the Chairman of NLC, Comrade Bulama Abiso disclosed that; “We convey our sincere appreciations on behalf of the entire retirees in the state. “You’ve taken such a bold step, to clear the bag logs of gratuities of 4,863 living and deceased retired workers from 2013 to 2017 from the civil service.” The Governor last Tuesday in Maiduguri, released N12 billion to offset the bag logs of retired workers’ gratuities and pensions. Abiso attributed the offset of gratuities to what he described as; “remarkable and unforgettable gestures of good leadership, transparency and accountability to the people.” He therefore called on Zulum; to extend hands of fellowship to state civil servants by paying their bag logs of “leave, transport and promotions” grants and allowances. He noted that the offset of gratuities will put smiles on the faces of retirees and their families. “The payments of pensions to our retirees, was at a critical time of economic recession,” he said, noting that it’s an inspiration to present and future generations for societal development. Comrade Abiso said the payments of gratuities; will put smiles on the faces of many retirees and their families at this critical time of economic recession. He assured the governor of continuous support and partnership to ameliorate the living conditions of workers in the state. Continued, he said: “We commend your efforts in the payments of pension arrears of over 400 retirees. “You’re also addressing the biometric data capture of workers and verifications of Local Government Council staff and teachers,” noting that this will enable the state government to implement the N18, 000 minimum wage. “The Governor has influenced and affected retirees’ immediate migration from salary to pension payments, three months after retiring from services,” he said. He said that Borno State Housing Corporation (BOHC) workers could not be paid, because of the low level of generating revenues into government coffers.
