KTSG settles retirees’ benefits with N1bn
From MUAWUYA B. IDRIS, Katsina

Katsina state government has spent over N1 billion for the settlement of pension and gratuity to retired civil servants, director administration and supply of the state establishment and training department, Alhaji Aliyu Galomi Girka has said.
Girka who spoke with newsmen in Katsina state explained that the amount was expended last year, reaffirming that out of the amount, N508 million was expended on pension while N500 million was expended on gratuity.
He maintained that the state government has introduced a policy that will ensure payment of pension and gratuity within three months after any civil servant retires from service.
The measure, according to him, has resulted in mass retirement of civil servants within the service of the state government.
“We observed that there was mass voluntary retirement by civil servants following prompt payment of pension and gratuity by the state government, Girka affirmed.
He further said, “since the creation of this state, no administration has laid emphasis on the settlement of pension and gratuity like that of Umaru Yar’adua”.
On the effort to alleviate the suffering of families of civil servants who die while in active service, he said over N1 million was provided to the deceased families last year.
He stressed that the money is a gift and was not part of the deceased’s pension and gratuity.
Girka also spoke on the effort by the state government to upgrade the status of College of Administration, Funtua. He said about N75 million will be expended on the provision of facilities at the college.
He also announced that the college will be upgraded to academic status to provide training to civil servants in the state.