Industrial Harmony : Kebbi Govt Expends N20 bn On Payment Retirement Benefits In 6 Years 

Determined to sustain the welfare and social well-being of workers,serving and retired, Kebbi State Government has spent over N20 billion on the payment of retirement benefits, from 2015 to date , the Hon. Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mamuda Muhammad Warra has disclosed .

 

These the Commissioner said, was coming as the Kebbi State Government, under the able leadership of Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu,  appraised the various agitations of the organised labour in the state.

 

 

 

Yahaya  Sarki, Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor, In a statement said this was with a view to maintaining industrial harmony in the state, as well as enhancing the living standard of retired workers, at all levels .

 

The Commissioner maintained that, it is on record that, the state Government met a liability of N4,376,242,726.93, which was not only liquidated, but additional sum was provided, which beefed up to N20,052,000,000.00 Billion, for payment of retirement benefits.

 

Warra recalled that, the latest of such approvals granted by the Governor was N3 Billion, that will significantly offset the retirement benefits of all those who retired up to 2018.

 

” Specifically, out of a total number of 1098 retirees, 958 retirees whose retirement benefits range from N5 Million and below will be paid 100 percent.

 

” This indicates that,  at the end of the excercise , the State Government will only be left with the burden of those who retired from 2019 upward,” he averred.

 

According to him , the state government was also determined to continue the monthly savings that will seek to address new retirees.

 

” In the same vein , Kebbi State under this administration has maintained simultaneous payment of pension along with salary .

 

To corroborate the above, Warra stated that, as it concerns the payment of Annual Increment, the Ministry of Finance was at no time directed to stop payment of annual increment.

 

Also, the Ministry of Finance provides monthly returns which reflects , salary, promotion etc.

 

His words : ” On the issue of the non payment of Leave Grant, it should be noted that, since the inception of this administration, leave grant has been regularly paid to Civil Servants.

 

He also said that, the Kebbi State Government was  however, fully  committed to the payment of all outstanding leave grant when the situation improves.

 

The Commissioner continued: ” On consequential adjustment, it will be recalled that, Kebbi State Government is the first to implement minimum wage and therefore, had fulfilled the necessary condition for minimum wage including consequential adjustment.

 

He said a committee was set up on the issue of consequential adjustment.

 

” For this reasons, it is necessary for the organized labour to recognize salient appreciable efforts put in by Government to address various agitations made.

 

” Government is not unmindful of the universal predicaments facing the Civil Servants and is determined to appropriately and affordably address them.

 

” However, we note with consternation the lack of concern, labour has exhibited to all salient efforts made for the betterment of the service.

 

“This industrial action is therefore, uncalled for and inimical to the ethics of extants law regulating industrial action.

 

” More so, they went into industrial action while negotiation is in progress.

 

‘ Happily the strike action has been suspended ‘, he said.

 Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Governor, on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi, Commissioned a new ultra- modern Fire Fighting Vehicle provided by the Federal Government.

It was also a double elation as the Kebbi State Command of the Federal Fire Service formally took off in Birnin Kebbi, same day .

Speaking at the epoch-making event , Bagudu said : ” I am highly elated today, as we got these glad tidings , from the Federal Government,  courtesy of the Federal Fire Service Department .

” I must certainly appreciate this invaluable gesture and show my unlimited happiness, as the Federal Government chose Kebbi State as one of the beneficiaries of this noble gesture .”

Bagudu, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Birnin Kebbi,  Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu (Jarman Kabi ), lauded President Muhammadu Buhari,the Minister of Interior, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola and the Comptroller General of Federal Fire Service, Dr Liman Alhaji Ibrahim for the gesture .

The Kebbi State Governor also noted that, the new vehicle and the take off of the department in the State, will bolster the protection and safety of lives, as well as property of the people of the state .

Bagudu further vowed that , the vehicle will be judiciously utilized and routinely maintained .

He also promised to look into the demads of the new office , especially constructing a new office for the department and the provision of other accessories,  as well as logistics to the federal fire service.

The Governor said , ” the vehicle and several  others belonging to the State command of the fire service, will help in curbing the menace of fire incidents .

” So, this vehicle cannot come at a better time than now when the harmatan season was on ,” Bagudu, said.

The Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service,Dr Ibrahim Liman, described Kebbi State as the home of myriad of notable personalities who have excelled in various fields of human endeavours and had impacted positively in the development of Nigeria .

Liman also acknowledged the immense efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari,Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and that of Justice , Abubakar Malami, SAN, in the deployment of the vehicle to the State .

”  It will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the State fire Service, to combat fire incidences and efficiently manage all emergencies ,” he added .

Kebbi State Works Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, extolled the efforts of Bagudu in providing all the needs of the state Fire Service Command.

Ladan also promised that , the vehicle will be put to proper use and a response time of not more than minutes, within Birnin Kebbi metropolis would be ensured .

He further said that the state government had procured four fire fighting vehicles for the Airport and the some of the existing fire vehicles of the state have been repaired and are fully functional.

The Commissioner also disclosed that, among other things, a new Headquarters will be constructed for the state Fire Service Command , this year .

Highlight of the event include test drive of the new truck by the chief of staff as well as mock demonstration by firemen on the capability of the new vehicle to overwhelm fire outbreak.

Before departure from the state capital, the Comptroller General paid courtesy visit to the emir of Gwandu , Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar at the Abdullahi Fodio Palace Birnin Kebbi.

He was also at the headquarters of Kebbi State fire service department as well as the office allocated to the federal fire service by the state government at Kebbi State Urban Development Authority ( KUDA).