The Bauchi State government says it has disbursed N5.2 billion gratuities to workers who retired from the state and local government service between 2012 and 2014.

The government also plans to begin payment of gratuities on Monday to workers who retired in 2015.

The Executive Secretary, Bauchi State Contributory Pension Commission, Ibrahim Inuwa, stated this while reviewing progress of the ongoing disbursement exercise, on Sunday in Bauchi.

Mr Inuwa said that N3.1 billion was paid to local government retirees and N2.1 billion to state government retirees since inception of the exercise in the last three weeks.  

He said that the total amount disbursed was expected to increase as payment progressed.

The secretary advised retirees who left the service in 2015, to obtain relevant information from pension desk officers in their respective local government areas.

An official of the disbursement committee, Kabir Sizwe, said that the exercise was progressing smoothly despite challenges, including difficulties associated with locating files of some retirees.

He said that relevant agencies were working to trace the missing files to enable the affected beneficiaries to receive their entitlements. 

Also, Kola Oyerinde, urged retirees who missed the 2012, 2013 and 2014 payment exercises to come forward for verification and processing.

Mr Oyerinde said that only 442 out of the 583 state retirees participated in the 2014, while 670 out of the 769 expected local government retirees turned up for the exercise.

He assured that the funds allocated were available, and urged those yet to receive their benefits to complete the necessary procedures.

(NAN)