Sokoto Govt expends N800m monthly on payment of gratuity, says Finance Commissioner
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
Engr Muhammad Jabbi Shagari, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Finance, says the state government spends N800millon monthly on the payment of gratuity.
He said that this is in order to defray the whopping N14billion pension and gratuity the current administration of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto inherited from his immediate past predecessor in 2023.
According to the Commissioner, the payment is being done monthly to both the old and new retirees.
Engr Muhammad Jabbi Shagari added that each month, the state government provides N500million for the old trotters while N300million is doled out for the new retirees.
He disclosed that the previous administration left behind debts accumulated from 2015 to December 2023.
” So far, we have paid ₦10 billion out of a total debt of ₦14 billion covering the period from 2015 to June 2022. As of April 2026, repayment began on 29 May 2024, when the current administration of Ahmad Aliyu marked one year in office in Sokoto State.
“At present, we have one year and six months remaining to fully settle the debts left by the previous administration.
“With the new payment arrangement of ₦300 million being paid every month from January 2024 to August 2025,” Engr Muhammad Jabbi Shagari added.
He continued,”We are optimistic that from now until December 2026, we will clear all the outstanding backlog that was left behind.”
“In all the payments, e-payments are being effected to make the exercise very transparent and error-free.
“A Committee being diligently chaired by the State’s Accountant General is handling the payments to ensure absolute prudence and accountability,” the Commissioner explained.
He further applauded Gov. Ahmed Aliyu for his steadfastness and unwavering commitment in clearing the pension and gratuity arrears he inherited and those workers who retired during his tenure.
He added, “Our most pious and amiable Governor has been keeping to his words, he has remained emphatic and he has performed creditably.”
Engr Muhammad Jabbi Shagari further noted with happiness that the cognate experience of the Governor who is trained and an accomplished Accountant has greatly facilitated transparency and accountability in the handling of the finances of Sokoto State from 2023 to date.
He added that Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has even exceeded his core 9-Point Agenda in bolstering the even infrastructural development of the state.
According to the Commissioner, the Governor had touched all sectors of the society, saying, “this is the kind of Governor the people of the state want just like our leader, the former indefatigable Governor of the state, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.”
He added that more projects are being packaged by the Governor to take Sokoto State to greater heights, enumerating then to include: Hospitals, boreholes, projects in education, infrastructure and more investments in youths, women as other vulnerable people.
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