KADUNA RELEASES FRESH ₦3.66BN FOR RETIREES AS PENSION PAYMENTS NEAR ₦21.5BN

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved the release of ₦3.659 billion for the payment of retirement benefits to former workers and beneficiaries across the state. The latest approval adds to the administration’s ongoing efforts to settle outstanding pension obligations and brings the total amount released for retirees and families of deceased workers under the administration to about ₦21.455 billion. The payments cover beneficiaries under both the Contributory Pension Scheme and the Defined Benefit Scheme.

The latest intervention is expected to benefit retired civil servants and other eligible beneficiaries who are entitled to accrued rights, gratuities and death benefits. The state government has continued to release funds periodically as part of its pension clearance programme, with previous disbursements reaching thousands of retirees and families of deceased workers. The administration has also maintained that clearing pension liabilities remains part of its efforts to improve the welfare of senior citizens who served the state and local governments.

Available records show that the payments have been made through several tranches since Sani assumed office. Earlier releases included ₦3.197 billion in October 2023, ₦3.631 billion in March 2024, ₦3.836 billion in April 2025, ₦2.328 billion in September 2025 and ₦4.289 billion in April 2026. The April 2026 release alone covered 1,637 beneficiaries, comprising retirees under the state and local government services as well as families entitled to death benefits.

The state government’s pension interventions have also included financial assistance for retirees facing medical emergencies. A separate provision of about ₦513.78 million was previously directed towards medical relief for 89 pensioners, including beneficiaries at both state and local government levels. The payments have been welcomed by pensioners’ representatives, although the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has continued to draw attention to outstanding liabilities owed to some elderly beneficiaries who are still waiting for their entitlements.

With the latest ₦3.659 billion approval, the administration said it remains committed to reducing the backlog of retirement benefits and ensuring that former workers receive payments due to them. The cumulative figure of ₦21.455 billion represents payments made over the course of the administration, with the latest release adding another substantial tranche to the pension clearance programme. The initiative is expected to provide financial relief to retirees and beneficiary families while addressing some of the long-standing obligations of the Kaduna State Government.