Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has officially approved the disbursement of gratuities and death benefits to retired civil servants, starting with those who retired in 2014.
A statement from the Permanent Secretary of the Taraba State Ministry of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning indicated that this initiative will cover state civil servants who retired between January and December 2014, as well as the next of kin of deceased pensioners within the same timeframe.
Affected pensioners are required to attend a verification session on January 21, 2026, at the Taraba State Ministry of Finance, bringing relevant documents such as Union and National Identity Cards, Pension Approval Letters, First and Last Appointment Letters, and Gratuity Computation Sheets.
Next of kin of deceased retirees must provide letters of administration.
The government has encouraged all affected retirees and beneficiaries to participate in this verification process to ensure timely and efficient payment of benefits.
However, the statement did not specify the amount of funds allocated for the gratuity payments, which may be disclosed to the public at a later date.
Comrade El-Nathan Auta Bila, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Taraba State Council, commended Governor Kefas for this decision and urged him to fulfill the approval completely.
He advised the Governor to honor additional commitments made to pensioners since taking office, particularly regarding the payment of the N32,000 and N70,000 minimum wage pension increases, as well as including local government pensioners in the gratuity payments.
He also suggested involving pensioners in the screening committee to improve outcomes.
Bila emphasized that satisfying these commitments could enhance the Governor’s chances in the 2027 gubernatorial election, as pensioners represent a significant voting bloc.
In response to the announcement, some pensioners expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to follow through, citing previous unfulfilled promises by Governor Kefas.
They recalled that upon taking office in 2023, the Governor pledged to release N2 billion monthly for gratuity payments, but only fulfilled this commitment once and subsequently issued a mere N100 million, which benefited a limited number of junior retirees.
Furthermore, they noted that the promise to implement the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners has yet to be realized.
Many voiced their disappointment, stating that the current administration has been ineffective in addressing their welfare, particularly compared to other northeastern states that have settled their pension obligations.
The pensioners urged the Governor to appoint trustworthy individuals to oversee payments to avoid any discrepancies and ensure that pensioners receive their rightful entitlements without issues.
They criticized the previous administration’s handling of payments, which has exacerbated discontent among retirees.
In conclusion, while acknowledging the approval for gratuity payments, pensioners remain cautiously optimistic, expressing hope for tangible results and warning that prompt action is essential to restore trust in the government’s commitment to their welfare.
