Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
Bauchi State has commenced the payment of outstanding gratuities to 1,700 retirees, beginning a fresh disbursement exercise aimed at reducing the backlog of retirement benefits owed to former state and local government workers.
The payment exercise began on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, according to the Chairman of the Bauchi State Pensioners Association, Abdullahi Alhassan, popularly known as Himman Misau.
Alhassan said the exercise would cover pensioners who retired during specified years, with local government retirees who left service between 2012 and 2013 and state government retirees who retired in 2013 included in the initial phase.
The development comes after the Bauchi State Government announced a plan to allocate ₦10 billion toward clearing outstanding gratuity liabilities owed to retired civil servants.
Payment Exercise Covers 1,700 Pensioners
According to Alhassan, the payment process is being coordinated through a 10-member sub-committee divided into 10 teams.
Three teams have been assigned to state government retirees at the State Audit Office, while seven teams will attend to local government retirees.
Each team is expected to process payments for about 32 pensioners daily as the exercise progresses.
The pensioners’ association chairman also outlined documentation requirements for beneficiaries to complete the process.
Living pensioners are expected to present their audit computation, Bank Verification Number slip and one passport photograph.
For deceased pensioners, their next of kin are required to provide a declaration and affidavit of next of kin, a recent BVN slip, one passport photograph and the original audit computation of the deceased pensioner.
Affected retirees have also been directed to report to the pensioners’ association office at Railway Road, Sabuwar Kasuwar Railway Junction, Bauchi, from 9 a.m. to obtain clearance forms before proceeding to their designated payment locations.
Government Had Announced ₦10 Billion Allocation
The current payment exercise follows an announcement by Governor Bala Mohammed that the state government would set aside ₦10 billion to begin addressing outstanding gratuity arrears.
Reports from August said the governor described the allocation as the beginning of an effort to reduce the accumulated obligations to retirees.
The Nigeria Standard reported that Mohammed said the administration had maintained the payment of salaries and pensions while also working to address outstanding pension liabilities.
The announcement came against the background of a much larger outstanding gratuity burden.
In September, the Nigeria Labour Congress in Bauchi State called on the state government to urgently address gratuity arrears reportedly exceeding ₦70 billion.
The NLC’s position indicates that the ₦10 billion allocation is intended to address part of the outstanding obligation rather than settle the entire backlog.
Retirees Awaiting Long-Delayed Benefits
Gratuity payments are particularly significant for retirees because they represent terminal benefits earned during years of public service.
Delays in payment can create financial difficulties for former workers who depend on retirement entitlements for household expenses and other obligations after leaving active employment.
The Bauchi payment exercise therefore represents more than a routine administrative process. It is part of a broader effort to reduce accumulated retirement liabilities and provide former public servants with benefits that have remained unpaid for extended periods.
Earlier in January 2026, the Bauchi State Contributory Pension Commission also announced the commencement of payments to civil servants who retired in March 2013.
That exercise involved the distribution of bank cheques to affected beneficiaries following government approval to clear their outstanding gratuities.
The January development demonstrated that some retirees in the state had waited for many years to receive their terminal benefits.
Labour Unions Have Pressed for Action
The latest disbursement also follows continued pressure from organised labour over unpaid gratuities.
The Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress recently appealed to the state government and the House of Assembly to prioritise the payment of outstanding retirement benefits.
NLC State Chairman Dauda M. Shuaibu said retirees were entitled to their gratuities and called for action to address the accumulated liabilities.
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in Bauchi had also called for the release of the approved ₦10 billion fund for the payment of gratuities to retired civil servants.
The union described the allocation as an important step but urged the government to proceed with the actual disbursement.
What the Payment Means for Bauchi Retirees
The immediate significance of the exercise is that eligible retirees covered by the first phase can begin accessing benefits owed to them.
The process also provides an opportunity for the state to establish a more structured approach to clearing the wider gratuity backlog.
However, the current exercise does not mean that all outstanding gratuities in Bauchi have been settled.
Reports citing the state NLC put the wider outstanding liability at more than ₦70 billion, while the government has announced ₦10 billion as the amount to begin clearing the backlog.
This means further payment phases would be required if the state is to address the entire liability.
The exact amount eventually required to settle all outstanding claims, as well as the timetable for subsequent phases, remains an important issue for retirees and labour organisations.
Transparency Will Remain Important
As payments continue, the identification of beneficiaries, verification of retirement records and publication of clear payment schedules will be important to the credibility of the exercise.
The pensioners’ association has already provided documentation requirements and designated locations for beneficiaries.
A transparent process can also help reduce confusion among retirees and their families, particularly in cases involving deceased pensioners and next-of-kin claims.
For retirees who have waited years for their entitlements, the practical test will ultimately be whether approved funds reach eligible beneficiaries efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
What Happens Next
The gratuity payment exercise is expected to continue with beneficiaries being processed through the designated teams and payment points.
Retirees covered by the current phase will need to complete the required verification and documentation before receiving their entitlements.
The broader issue will be whether the Bauchi State Government can sustain additional payment rounds and progressively reduce the outstanding gratuity liability.
For now, the commencement of payments to 1,700 pensioners marks a new stage in the state’s effort to address long-standing retirement benefit obligations.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- Mizani News — report on the commencement of gratuity payments to 1,700 Bauchi pensioners.
- The Nigeria Standard — report on Bauchi State’s ₦10 billion allocation for outstanding gratuities.
- Nigeria Labour Congress, Bauchi State — reported appeal for payment of outstanding gratuity arrears.
- Bauchi State Contributory Pension Commission — reports on earlier payment of outstanding gratuities to retirees.
- Channels Television — Bauchi State 2026 budget report and commitment to outstanding gratuity payments.
