Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State on Friday presented cheques worth ₦5.81 billion to retired civil servants and the families of deceased workers to clear outstanding gratuities across the state.
The presentation, held at the Council Chamber of the Government House in Maiduguri, formed part of the administration’s efforts to improve the welfare of retirees and support families who lost loved ones while serving in the public service.
Addressing organised labour leaders and members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners during the ceremony, Zulum disclosed that ₦2.99 billion would be used to settle gratuities owed to the families of deceased civil servants, while ₦2.82 billion would clear gratuities for pensioners who retired up to December 2022.
He added that the payment also covered outstanding gratuities owed to employees of the Borno State Housing Corporation from 2013 to date.
“In fulfilment of our campaign promises, we are presenting a cheque of about ₦5.81 billion to retired civil servants and families of deceased civil servants,” the governor said.
Zulum noted that many families of deceased civil servants continue to experience financial hardship following the loss of their breadwinners, adding that the government was providing almost ₦3 billion to help them live with dignity.
“Apart from this, civil servants who retired in 2022 will now receive their gratuities in full, after which we shall move to those who retired in 2023,” he said.
The governor described the payment as part of his administration’s sustained efforts to clear inherited pension liabilities and ensure retired workers receive their long-awaited entitlements without unnecessary delay.
According to him, the state government has consistently released ₦200 million every month to support gratuity payments as part of its commitment to meeting pension obligations.
Zulum recalled that his administration released ₦8 billion in 2025 to settle pensioners’ entitlements and teachers’ gratuities. He added that ₦12 billion had earlier been disbursed in 2020 to about 5,000 retired state and local government workers, demonstrating the government’s determination to reduce outstanding pension liabilities.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Lawan Umar Dalorima, commended the governor for sustaining workers’ welfare despite the state’s financial challenges.
Dalorima said the payment reflected the administration’s commitment to honouring citizens who devoted their productive years to the service of Borno State.
He added that fulfilling gratuity obligations was essential to protecting the dignity of retirees and strengthening public confidence in the government’s commitment to its workforce.
The Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Borno State, Mamman Bukar, welcomed the payment and praised the governor for fulfilling the outstanding gratuity obligations.
Bukar described the intervention as timely, saying it would ease the hardship experienced by pensioners and the families of deceased civil servants across the state.
He added that the payment would reinforce workers’ confidence in the government’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations to both serving and retired employees.
Meanwhile, Zulum assured local government workers that his administration remained committed to addressing issues affecting their welfare and conditions of service.
He said the state government would soon meet representatives of local government workers to discuss practical measures aimed at improving their working conditions.
The governor, however, observed that the large number of employees on local government payrolls had slowed the implementation of broader welfare reforms. He appealed for patience, assuring workers that ongoing discussions with union leaders would produce lasting solutions to their concerns.
