The Zamfara State Government says it has verified 3,079 retirees in an effort to pay the backlog of gratuities owed by previous administrations.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said a total of 1746 pensioners from both the state and local government have received two tranches of payment amounting to N2,312,841,065.08.

According to the statement, progress has been made in verifying state and local government pensioners.

Payment for the second tranche of verified pensioners’ gratuity commenced on Friday, March 1, 2024.

“A total of 413 verified pensioners from the state have been paid a sum of about NGN 682,228,647.38 (six hundred and eighty-two million, two hundred and twenty thousand, six hundred- and forty-seven-naira thirty-eight kobo only).

“Also, the payment of the second tranche of verified pensioners from Local Governments has commenced. A total of 403 verified pensioners from the Local Governments, amounting to N449,667,142.08 (four hundred and forty-nine million, six hundred and sixty-seven thousand, one hundred and forty-two naira and eight kobo only), have been paid.

“Out of the 3079 pensioners who have been verified, 1746 have received their gratuity payments in two tranches from both the state and local governments. The total amount paid so far is N2,312,841,065.08 (two billion, three hundred and twelve million, eight hundred and forty-one thousand, sixty-five naira and eight kobo only).

“The process of verifying and authenticating retirees is still ongoing, with payments being made to those who have been cleared,” the statement said.