His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON, has officially flagged off the disbursement of ₦21,102,630,564.08 for the payment of outstanding retirement and death gratuities to eligible state and local government workers across Katsina State.
The flag-off ceremony, held at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina, represents a major milestone in the Radda administration’s commitment to the welfare of senior citizens, retirees, and the families of deceased civil servants who served the state with dedication and integrity. The disbursement is aimed at clearing gratuity backlogs accumulated between September 2023 and October 2025.
Speaking at the event, Governor Radda stated that the exercise was carefully structured to ensure fairness, transparency, and efficiency. He disclosed that ₦7,713,971,069.96 has been approved as a one-off payment to settle outstanding gratuities and death benefits owed to retired state civil servants. In addition, ₦13,388,659,494.12 has been allocated for retirees of the 34 Local Government Areas and Local Education Authorities, with payments to be made in monthly tranches from January to April 2026.
Governor Radda recalled that his administration had earlier disbursed over ₦23 billion, which successfully cleared pension and gratuity arrears covering the period from 2019 to August 2023. He noted that these cumulative interventions reflect the government’s determination to restore confidence in public service and uphold the dignity of retirees.
He added that the current disbursement would provide immediate financial relief to retirees and bereaved families, rebuild trust between the workforce and the government, and institutionalise a system where gratuities are paid within the same month of retirement.
Overall, the Governor announced that a total of ₦45,885,776,176.45 has so far been approved and released for the payment of gratuities and death benefits to 14,560 beneficiaries across the State, Local Governments, and Local Education Authorities.
Beyond clearing inherited liabilities, Governor Radda emphasized that his administration is implementing far-reaching institutional reforms to guarantee the long-term sustainability of the pension system. He highlighted the enactment of the Katsina State Pension Reform Law, 2025, which introduces a Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme designed to ensure timely and sustainable payment of retirement benefits. Under the law, a combined 20 percent contribution by government and employees will be professionally managed by licensed Pension Fund Administrators, thereby preventing the future accumulation of arrears.
In his remarks, the Head of Service, Alhaji Falalu Bawale, commended Governor Radda for prioritising the welfare of civil servants and retirees, describing the intervention as historic and one that has brought relief and renewed hope to thousands of families across the state. He noted that the consistent clearance of gratuity backlogs has significantly boosted morale within the civil service and strengthened confidence in government.
Also delivering remarks, representatives of Organised Labour in Katsina State applauded the Governor’s commitment to workers’ welfare, describing the disbursement as a landmark achievement in labour–government relations. They observed that the timely payment of gratuities and death benefits has addressed long-standing concerns, reduced hardship among affected families, and restored confidence in the state’s pension administration. Organised Labour pledged continued cooperation with the state government to sustain industrial harmony and support policies aimed at improving workers’ welfare and productivity.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Executive Secretary, State and Local Government Pension Transition Board, Malam Mukhtar Ammani, assured the public that a rigorous verification and validation process was adopted to ensure that only genuine beneficiaries receive payments. He confirmed that all approved gratuities would be paid directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, in line with best practices for transparency and accountability.
Governor Radda reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to building a responsive, compassionate, and fiscally responsible government that honours those who devoted their productive years to the service of Katsina State.
