Governor Radda inaugurates pension transition board, bureau to ensure prompt payment of retirees’ benefits

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The Katsina State Governor, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, has inaugurated the State and Local Government Pension Transition Board and the State Pension Bureau to ensure full implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The inauguration ceremony took place yesterday at the Government House Council Chambers in Katsina.

In his address, Governor Radda appointed former Head of Service, Alhaji Garba Sanda Mani, as part-time Chairman of the Pension Transition Board, while Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi will head the State Pension Bureau as part-time Chairman.

The Governor explained that the Pension Transition Board comprises representatives from the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, and the Nigeria Civil Service Union.

Other members include the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of 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, who will serve as an independent observer. The Executive Secretary of the Board will serve as member and secretary.

Governor Radda outlined the board’s mandate to include maintaining a 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.

The board will also ensure prompt payment of gratuities to civil servants who retire or die in service.

On the State Pension Bureau, the Governor named its membership to include the Director General and four Executive Directors: Alhaji Musa Rabiu Mahuta, Alhaji Abbati Ibrahim Masanawa, and Usman Shehu, chosen for their experience and integrity.

Other members include the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Head of Civil Service, a representative of the Ministry of Finance, the Chairman of the State Civil Service Commission, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, the state chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NULGE, and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, and the Secretary of the State House of Assembly Commission. Dr. Faruq Aminu will serve as an observer.

The Governor explained that the bureau’s functions include supervising all contributory pension schemes established under the law, approving and maintaining a list of Pension Fund Administrators and Pension Fund Custodians as determined by the National Pension Commission, conducting public awareness on the management of the scheme, and receiving complaints from retired workers against pension administrators.

Governor Radda disclosed that his administration has successfully cleared accumulated inherited liabilities of retirees’ benefits amounting to approximately N30 billion within one year.

He explained that thorough verification reduced the amount to about N24 billion, which has been settled.

The Governor assured that after clearing the last batch of accrued gratuities worth over N20 billion, the government would ensure that no civil servant retires without prompt payment of their benefits.