Kaduna approves ₦3.659bn pension payment for 1,339 beneficiaries

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has approved ₦3.659 billion for pension, gratuity and death-benefit payments to retirees and families of deceased civil servants. Commissioner for Information and Culture Ahmed Maiyaki announced the approval in a statement. He said it covers 1,339 beneficiaries in the state and local government services under the Defined Benefit Scheme and Contributory Pension Scheme.

Maiyaki said 210 local-government retirees would receive ₦515 million under the Defined Benefit Scheme. A further ₦3.144 billion was approved under the Contributory Pension Scheme for 1,129 people: 402 state-service retirees and 727 local-government retirees. The commissioner said the latest approval brings pension payments by the Sani administration to ₦21.455 billion, covering 9,683 beneficiaries since it assumed office in May 2023.

He described the payment as part of efforts to address outstanding pension liabilities and strengthen the state’s pension system. Maiyaki also linked it to wider public-finance reforms focused on fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability. He said the administration considered pension payments an obligation to retirees and families of deceased public servants, rather than a favour.