The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has pledged to clear outstanding pensions and gratuities owed to retired civil servants in the state accrued between 2023 and 2025, the government announced in a press statement on Sunday in Makurdi.
The governor said that the backlog would be settled before the end of January 2026, underscoring his administration’s continued commitment to worker welfare.
The statement, signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Tersoo Kula, noted that the Alia administration has prioritised consistent payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities since taking office.
“We’ve been paying gratuities because I have taken the welfare of my staff and all civil servants very seriously. In the last two and a half years, I have never missed the payment of salaries and pensions, including gratuities,” the governor said, highlighting sustained financial flows for employee entitlements.
Governor Alia explained that the initial focus of his administration was on clearing approved arrears, but deliberate steps are now being taken to ensure that all retirees within the last two and a half years who have yet to receive their gratuities will be paid.
“For those within the last two and a half years who have not received their gratuities, they will receive them in a matter of days. All gratuities within this period will be paid,” he assured.
The governor also noted that payment of other outstanding pension and salary arrears will continue based on available financial inflows, indicating a phased approach tied to the state’s fiscal capacity.
He added that his government was determined to maintain a healthy financial flow while meeting its obligations to workers, reflecting a strategic focus on both fiscal management and public service welfare.
Alia addressed the ongoing national strike by resident doctors, urging dialogue and negotiation as the best path to resolving labour disputes and expressing confidence that doctors in Benue State would not have joined the strike were it not for its nationwide reach.
He noted the potential humanitarian consequences of disrupted medical services, emphasising the need for workers and government to pursue constructive engagement.
The governor’s pledge to clear recent pension and gratuity arrears adds to broader efforts by subnational governments in Nigeria to address long‑standing obligations to retirees.
Pension and gratuity payments across different states have been an area of policy focus, with some states instituting verification exercises to eliminate ghost workers and ensure that legitimate retirees receive entitlements.
Benue’s initiative to eliminate these backlogs before the end of January 2026 aligns with such trends and is expected to provide financial relief to retired workers and their families, while also aiming to enhance confidence in the state’s public service system.
