Gombe Gov’t Approves Over N5.2bn To Settle Gratuity

Gombe Gov’t Approves Over N5.2bn To Settle Gratuity

By Yahaya Musa, Gombe

Gombe State Government has approved the sum of 5.291 Billion Naira for the payment of the backlog of gratuity for the state and local government retirees.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mjinyawa Ardo Tilde shortly after the 36th State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.

Giving the breakdown of the approvals, the Commissioner of Finance, Hon. Muhammad Gambo Magaji said the council approved the sum of 2.291 Million Naira for the payment of gratuity of state government retirees while 3 Billion Naira was approved for local government retirees.

“If you recall, His Excellency the governor has continuously been paying and reducing the backlog of gratuity he inherited since assumption of office four and a half years ago. This is the 5th time he is approving the payment of gratuity backlogs to the deserving retirees who left service but unfortunately were not paid their gratuities”, he said.

The commissioner also said the sum of 332 million Naira was approved for the payment of compensation to property owners at Bauchi Motor Park and Dukku Motor Park to pave the way for the building of a modern and befitting state Secretariat and bring to the fore the utilisation of the Mega motor park completed by the incumbent administration.

The Commissioner added that the Council also approved the Sum of 358 million Naira for the compensation of properties erected by Buckham Engineering on the land allotted for the building of the international market along Yemi Osinbajo Road which falls within the area demarcated for building the Judiciary and House of Assembly Complexes.

Elaborating on the payment of gratuity for the local government retirees, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Abdulkadir Mohammed Malle said local governments are responsible for 85% of the total sum while state governments contribute 15%, adding that some LGAs will pay backlogs from 2016 up to 2022.

He also explained that his ministry got the approval for the execution of important projects across the 11 LGAs of the state. The project includes the renovation of LGA Secretariats, Palaces, feeder roods, and solar street lights among others.

Also, the Commissioner of Works, Usman Maijama’a Kallamu explained that the State Executive Council approved the sum of N478,679,970 for review of the ongoing road construction from Kuri, Lambam, Dasa to connect to Talasse.

The Commissioner revealed that the reviews of the road construction become necessary given the filter underwater discovered along the road spanning about 17 kilometres.

The commissioner of Water, Environment and Forest Resources, Mohammed Saidu Fawu disclosed that the State Executive Council approved the sum of One billion eight hundred million to CGC firm as a contract renewal for the treatment of water from the Dadinkowa Dam.

The Commissioner noted that the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya places a premium on water supply to the people of the State, hence his unwavering commitment to ensure water flows through the taps of every home in the state capital and environs.

He revealed that work on the expansion of water supply to the suburbs of the Gombe metropolis has reached an advanced stage as the contractor handling the multi-billion naira project is expected to complete the same by the middle of the year.

The council also ratified and assented to a five-year nutrition policy (2024 -2027) which intends to reduce malnutrition, especially among children, reduce hunger and alleviate poverty in Gombe State. The council approved 2 Billion Naira for the proper implementation of the policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Education and Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.