The Jigawa State and Local Government Contributory Pension Board has begun disbursing N3.4 billion in pension entitlements to 1,331 beneficiaries.

Its acting executive secretary, Nasiru Haruna, said this in a statement by the board’s spokesman, Ismail Ibrahim, on Thursday in Dutse.

Mr Haruna said payments were being made to pensioners who retired from the service and those who died between January and July 2024.

He said more than N2.5 billion was disbursed to 1,001 beneficiaries who retired by reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 or 35 years of service.

The executive secretary said more than N730 million was being paid to heirs of 241 beneficiaries, who died in active service.

According to him, N109.5 million is being paid to 84 beneficiaries who retired from service and started receiving monthly pensions but died before reaching their minimum period of five years after retirement.

“The last batch was beneficiaries who did not contribute up to a period of five years, and the law stated that for every staff member to qualify to be paid from the scheme, he or she must contribute for a minimum period of five years.

“Under this category, we have paid one person the sum of N2,705,459, including 15 per cent interest.

“Today, we are going to pay the sum of N3,422,239,826 to 1,331 workers who retired or died from various state MDAs, LGCs and LGEAs,” he said.

He said the payment included a retirement benefit, a death benefit, a death pension balance, and a refund of eight per cent of the contribution.

Mr Haruna commended Governor Umar Namadi for releasing N3.42 billion to settle outstanding gratuities and death benefits of the 1,331 retirees.

He recalled that in January this year, the state government released N2 billion as a bailout to the board to enable it to settle outstanding gratuities.

(NAN)