Katsina, January 16 – Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has inaugurated the State and Local Government Pension Transition Board and the State Pension Bureau to guarantee prompt payment of retirees’ benefits and full implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme in the state.
The inauguration took place on Thursday at the Government House Council Chambers, Katsina.
Governor Radda said the new structures were designed to institutionalise efficiency, transparency and accountability in pension administration, assuring that no civil servant would retire without receiving their entitlements as and when due.
He announced the appointment of a former Head of Service, Alhaji Garba Sanda Mani, as part-time Chairman of the Pension Transition Board, while Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi was named part-time Chairman of the State Pension Bureau.
According to the governor, the Pension Transition Board comprises representatives of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Nigeria Civil Service Union, alongside key government officials.
Other members include the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries for Local Government and Justice, the State Accountant General, the Director-General of the State Pension Bureau, the Auditor-General for the state and local governments, and Dr. Aminu Faruq as an independent observer. The Executive Secretary of the Board will serve as member and secretary.
Governor Radda said the board’s responsibilities include maintaining a comprehensive database of state and local government pensioners exempted from the Contributory Pension Scheme, preparing budgetary estimates for monthly pension payments, and submitting monthly payrolls to the Office of the Accountant General and the Ministry for Local Government for direct payment. It will also ensure prompt payment of gratuities to officers who retire or die in service.
On the State Pension Bureau, the governor said it would be headed by the Director-General with four Executive Directors, namely Alhaji Musa Rabiu Mahuta, Alhaji Abbati Ibrahim Masanawa and Usman Shehu, who were selected based on experience and integrity.
The bureau’s governing board also includes the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Civil Service; a representative of the Ministry of Finance; the Chairmen of the State Civil Service Commission and the Local Government Service Commission; the state chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NULGE and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners; the Secretaries of the Judicial Service Commission and the State House of Assembly Commission, with Dr. Aminu Faruq serving as an observer.
Governor Radda explained that the bureau would supervise all contributory pension schemes established under the law, approve and maintain a list of Pension Fund Administrators and Custodians in line with National Pension Commission guidelines, conduct public enlightenment on the scheme, and handle complaints from retirees against pension administrators.
The governor disclosed that his administration had cleared inherited retirees’ liabilities estimated at about N30 billion within one year, noting that verification exercises reduced the figure to about N24 billion, which has now been fully settled.
He assured that after the payment of the final batch of accrued gratuities valued at over N20 billion, the state would maintain a system where no worker retires without prompt settlement of pension and gratuity benefits.
The event was attended by top government officials, labour leaders and pension stakeholders.
