Stakeholders have continued to laud the decision of Niger State governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to approve N25 billion for payment of retirees’ gratuity and death benefits under the direct pension scheme.

A former lawmaker representing Bosso Constituency in the 9th Assembly, Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso, has lauded the decision.

In an open letter to the governor, which was made available to newsmen in Minna yesterday, the lawmaker, however, admonished due diligence in the process.

He said the governor has shown tremendous empathy for approving the funds to ease the sufferings of retirees, but due diligence must be done to ensure adequate use of the money.

“Pensioners in the state are of two categories, those who retired from the state civil service commission and whose entitlements are to be paid through the State Pension Board and those who retired under the Local Government Service Commission and whose entitlements are to be paid through the State Local Government Pension Board,” Malik who was chairman Labour committee in the last assembly explained.

He disclosed that a bill sponsored by him and passed into law as the Niger State Pension Reform (amendment) Law, No.2, 2020 came into force on Sept.17, 2020 and the law created the State Local Government Pension Board and separated the administration of pensions of the state retirees and the local government retirees.

Similarly, Mohammed Yakubu, a retiree, lauded the governor for taking the gauntlet to address the plight of retirees with the approval of N25 billion, adding that the amount is huge and will go a long way to end their suffering.

Another retiree, Yusuf Mohammed, said the amount is the largest ever invested in pensioners’ welfare at once since the state’s history, and pray to God for the governor to get the financial backing for expeditious payment.