Connect with us

Politics

GOVERNOR DAUDA LAWAL PAYS N4.3 BILLION AS BACKLOG OF GRATUITY OWED SINCE 2011

Published

on

 

Governor Dauda Lawal has paid over four billion Naira in gratuities to retired workers in Zamfara State, which has been owed since 2011.

Retired state and local government workers in Zamfara State have not received the gratuities that have accumulated over the years.

A statement by the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that gratuity payments began in February for state and local government workers after retirees were authenticated and validated.

According to the statement, the Zamfara state government has paid a total of N4,337,087,492.06 billion in four batches to state and local government retirees.

“In February, Governor Dauda Lawal set up a committee to validate retiree data and settle the gratuity debt that has accumulated since 2011 as part of his effort to sanitize the civil service in Zamfara State.

“After verifying the data of retired civil servants in Zamfara, the government discovered that state and local governments owed a total of N13.4 billion.

“In the first, second, and third tranches of payment, 1,088 verified state pensioners were paid their total gratuity entitlements. The total amount paid was N1,836,836,018.95

“This month, 284 verified state pensioners were paid their gratuity arrears worth N499,435,942.42 in the fourth batch. The total amount paid by the state pension rose to N2,336,271,961.37.

“Furthermore, a total of 1,744 retired Local Government and Primary School Teachers who retired between 2011 and 2018 have been paid N2,000,815,530.69 in four batches.

“The ongoing gratuity payment is a remarkable achievement, and it is expected to provide some relief to the beneficiaries who have been waiting for years to receive their benefits.

“Governor Lawal’s administration has shown that it remains focused on fulfilling its promises to the people of Zamfara State.”

SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS
Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor
May 10, 2024

Politics

Former Nigerian VP Sambo dumps PDP for APC

Published

on

Former Nigerian Vice President Namadi Sambo

Former Nigerian Vice President Namadi Sambo officially dumped the People’s Democratic Party for the ruling All Progressives Party, on Wednesday.

Ekwutosblog reports that the former VP under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration between 2010 and 2015 joined the Kaduna State Chapter of the APC on Friday.

An APC stalwart, Imran Muhammad, confirmed Sambo’s defection in his X account.

Details soon…

Continue Reading

Politics

Senate Questions Nomination Of Non-Indigene As Rivers Electoral Commission Chair

Published

on

Odey, a native of Cross River State, came under scrutiny from the panel, chaired by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, over his non-indigene status.

The Senate Adhoc Committee on the Emergency Rule in Rivers State has commenced the screening of nominees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), with a major point of contention emerging over the nomination of Michael Odey as the chairman of the electoral body.

Odey, a native of Cross River State, came under scrutiny from the panel, chaired by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, over his non-indigene status, particularly as he hails from the same state as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok Ekwe Ibas.

While defending his eligibility, Odey said his nomination does not contravene any provisions of the RSIEC enabling law.

“With utmost respect, I have gone through the RSIEC’s enabling law, and there is nothing that precludes the appointment of anybody outside the state as chairman of the electoral management body,” he said.

However, Senator Bamidele expressed reservations, noting that even if the law is silent on the matter, the implications of appointing someone from outside the state must be carefully considered.

He said, “We are also in possession of the law, so make it available to the committee because in my opinion, the Independent National Electoral Commission is about the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When we say State Independent Electoral Commission, it is about that state.”

The Senate Leader added that the nomination raises fundamental concerns about public perception and legal precedent.

“This is not a matter we are just going to gloss over. It has to be something we can defend. Even if the law does not prohibit such an appointment, we must ensure it is not repugnant to public conscience,” the lawmaker said.

He said the committee would re-examine the eligibility criteria under the RSIEC law to determine if such an appointment could serve as a viable precedent for the future.

Other nominees screened for membership of the commission included Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive A. Bruce, and Chidi Halliday.

Continue Reading

Politics

Benue govt declares public holiday ahead of Tinubu’s visit

Published

on

The Benue State Government has declared Wednesday, June 18, 2025, a public holiday to mark the official visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state.

Ekwutosblog reports that Tinubu had announced that he would cut short his schedule to visit Benue State over the recent attacks on the state.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Serumun Deborah Aber, the President is expected in the state on a one-day condolence visit to commiserate with the government and people of Benue over the recent spate of violent attacks that have led to numerous deaths.

 

The government stated that the holiday is intended to give citizens the opportunity to receive the president warmly but clarified that the directive excludes workers in essential services, including medical personnel, security agencies, and banking institutions.

“Residents across the state are encouraged to come out in large numbers to welcome the President and his delegation during what has been described as a significant and symbolic visit,” the statement added.

Continue Reading

Trending