By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The chairman of the committee for the payment of gratuity to retired civil servants in Sokoto State, Alhaji Umar Ahmad Tambuwal, has reaffirmed commitment to ensuring legitimate retirees are paid immediately.
Tambuwal made this assurance in response to complaints from some beneficiaries who claimed they had not yet received their payment alerts after undergoing the screening process.
Tambuwal, who is also the Sokoto State Accountant General, explained that the committee approved the release of funds to beneficiaries immediately after the screening process is completed.
He noted that some beneficiaries, particularly those residing far from the state capital, often receive their payment alerts while returning home.
He further clarified that the delays in payments, as reported by a few beneficiaries, were not due to any fault of the committee, but rather due to technical issues with the financial institutions, as payments are processed electronically.
The Accountant General assured that the committee, under his leadership, is working tirelessly in collaboration with the affected banks to expedite the outstanding payments.
He also urged the beneficiaries to exercise patience, reassuring them that the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu is fully committed to settling the backlog of gratuities owed to retired civil servants in the state.
The Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Finance Sirajo Ibrahim, while shedding more light on the issue said the deputy accountant general, Junaidu Usman Junaidu, attributed the delay to the fact that some beneficiaries have limited bank accounts, which made it difficult to receive their payments, emphasizing the need for account upgrades.
Junaidu is also the secretary of the committee for the payment of gratuities.
According to him, immediately after the screening process, beneficiaries’ funds must be sent to the headquarters of the bank for further processing, which can take four to five days before the beneficiaries receive their payments.
He used the opportunity to encourage those who do not receive their payments within four to five days of completing their screening to visit the desk office established by the Ministry of Finance to lodge their complaints for further action.