KATSINA State Government has accessed N11 billion bailout funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which would be committed to payment of outstanding pension and gratuities of state, and unified local government service retired civil servants.
Governor Aminu Masari made this known in Katsina when he appointed a committee to verify pension and gratuities arrears and also ascertain outstanding liability on the state and local government pension and gratuities within four weeks.
He also charged the panel to verify the beneficiaries for the payment of the retirees’ entitlements.
He revealed that immediately the committee completes the verification of any department, the selected commercial bank would receive approval to pay the genuine retirees or beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, organised labour in Benue yesterday gave the state government 72 hours ultimatum to stop the ongoing biometric exercise and pay the backlog of salary arrears owed workers. In a joint communiqué issued by chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Messrs Godwin Anya; Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ordue Tartenger and Joint Public Service Negotiation Council (JPSNC), Philip Nongo, the organised labour posited that biometric screening should not be a prerequisite for payment of salary arrears owed workers.
The workers warned that if government fails to honour the ultimatum and pay workers before Friday, they would be forced to severe the harmonious relationship with the government.
After the bailout fund was accessed two weeks ago, the government engaged consultants to audit the state workforce, which is expected to last till November 8, while also setting up committees to monitor the exercise.
Daily Sun investigation revealed that the decision of labour leaders to give the 72- hour ultimatum followed the commencement of payment of two-month salary arrears to staff of Benue State University (BSU) even though they refused to submit themselves for screening.
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