TheCable

Labour unions have commended Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, for releasing N3.1 billion for payment of gratuity of retirees and death benefits to families of deceased beneficiaries.

The governor in October approved the release of the fund for the payment of gratuity to retirees and death benefits for families of the deceased under the defined benefit and the contributory pension scheme.

According to the Kaduna State Pension Bureau, over 1000 retirees and families of deceased beneficiaries are to benefit from the funds.

The bureau said the verification exercise for the payment of the gratuity and death benefits has commenced in the three senatorial zones of the state.

In separate letters by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), the unions said the release of the funds is timely, “especially in the face of the current economic realities”.

“We write to appreciate Your Excellency for the approval and release of N3.1 Billion for the payment of gratuity for retirees and death benefits for families of the deceased retirees,” Ayuba Suleiman, chairman of Kaduna chapter of NLC, wrote in a letter.

“This honourable gesture will serve as an immediate intervention that will alleviate the suffering of both the retirees and the families of our fallen heroes who served our dear state diligently.”

Also, in their letters, NUP and TUC commended the Kaduna governor for the release of the pension funds.

“You excelled as a Senator, by sponsoring bills that touched the lives of many Nigerians, and now you have gone ahead to set aside such a huge amount of money for the payment of gratuity and death benefits, we the leaders of this great Union appreciate this gesture which will touch the lives of many Pensioners,” the NUP said in the letter.