By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
After years of neglect and heartbreaking delays, over 8,600 retired workers in Zamfara State can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the state government has cleared a N13.6 billion backlog in unpaid gratuities, some dating as far back as 2011.
Governor Dauda Lawal, while inaugurating a new Contributory Pension Implementation Committee in Gusau, said the payment marks a critical turning point in restoring dignity to civil servants who gave decades of service to the state.
“For too long, our retirees suffered in silence,” the governor said. “Many died waiting for what was rightfully theirs. Today, we honour their memory by doing what is just and long overdue.”
A report presented to the governor revealed that 3,824 retired state civil servants received N7.9 billion, while 4,833 retirees from the Unified Local Government Service got N5.9 billion—settling gratuity arrears accumulated over 12 years.
For many retirees, the news has brought tears—this time, tears of relief.
“I lost my husband three years ago waiting for this money,” said Aisha Umar, a widow in Kaura Namoda. “I never thought the day would come. Now I can finally pay my debts and restart a small trade.”
Governor Lawal, in a statement through his spokesperson Sulaiman Idris, noted that his administration inherited the massive liability upon assumption of office but made pension reform a priority despite widespread economic challenges.
He recalled that when he took office, Zamfara’s minimum wage was just N7,000—a figure he described as “inhumane.” In two years, he raised it to N70,000, introduced Sallah bonuses, and a 13th-month productivity salary for all public workers, including political appointees.
“These are not just reforms on paper,” he said. “They are real interventions that touch lives and restore trust in government.”
The newly inaugurated Contributory Pension Implementation Committee is expected to spearhead a complete overhaul of Zamfara’s pension system. The committee will work with the Ministry of Justice, Zamfara State Pension Commission, and the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency (ZITDA) to draft a new pension law, upgrade digital infrastructure, and build capacity among civil servants.
The committee will also develop a transition roadmap to shift the state from its current pension scheme to a fully contributory system, in line with national standards and best practices.
Governor Lawal praised the earlier review committee for navigating the painstaking process of verification and disbursement. “Your dedication has opened the door to lasting reform. We now have a chance to build a pension system that’s transparent, accountable, and humane,” he said.
As Zamfara begins this next chapter in pension reform, thousands of retirees across the state now look forward to living with dignity no longer forgotten, no longer begging for what they’ve earned.