Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, says his administration has approved the sum of ₦1.6 billion for the settlement of gratuities owed retired civil servants for the year 2012.
Governor Sule made the announcement on Thursday in Lafia, the state capital, during the distribution of 100 electric vehicles and tricycles to youths from the 13 Local Government Areas as part of an empowerment initiative.
According to him, his government has already cleared all outstanding gratuities between 1996 and 2011, and is now addressing the 2012 backlog in full.
“This year, at the state level, we are paying all the 2012 gratuities — 100 per cent of the money, amounting to ₦1.6 billion,” the governor stated.
The governor also revealed plans to assist local government councils with ₦600 million to enable them to pay their own retired staff.
He, however, cautioned against the challenge of overstaffing in the local government system, which he said was responsible for the recurring debt burden.
“Every year, the LGAs leave gratuity between ₦5 billion and ₦6 billion; there is no way they will be able to pay if the trend continues,” Sule warned.
The governor further urged the State House of Assembly to conduct an audit of the 13 LGAs to determine the actual number of staff on their payroll.
The gratuity settlement comes alongside efforts by the state government to promote entrepreneurship and green energy adoption through the distribution of electric vehicles and tricycles.