Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has ordered the immediate clearance of all outstanding pensions, gratuities, and related entitlements for verified pensioners. The directive was issued via a press release signed by Yusuf Sanda, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, underscoring the administration’s resolve to address long-standing payment backlogs. 

In the statement, Governor Kefas said, “Taraba State must honour those who have dedicated their lives to public service. Their dignity is non-negotiable, and attending to their welfare is our moral duty.”  To ensure fairness and accountability, the government will deploy a special outreach team across all local government areas, wards, and villages to identify verified pensioners, including those who are elderly or incapacitated. 

How the Payment Will Be Managed

The Ministry of Finance has been mandated to submit weekly compliance reports to the Governor’s office. Officials were specifically instructed to remove administrative roadblocks that might delay payments. 

This is not the first time Governor Kefas has made moves to address pension and gratuity arrears. Earlier, he approved ₦1 billion for paying the backlog of gratuities.  He also directed that ₦200 million be set aside each month to chip away at the accumulated liabilities.  In that announcement, he expressed regret that retirees had waited for years  the last time payments were made was in 2011. 

Rose Garba Ajiya, the Permanent Secretary in charge of Pensions, praised the initiative, saying that their records are well organized and that the team is ready to begin payments immediately. 

Reactions and Implications

The move has been welcomed by retirees and opposition figures alike. Some believe this effort could revive confidence in the state’s pension system and provide relief to older civil servants who have long suffered. 

Governor Kefas’s decision to set up an outreach team and demand weekly reports is seen by many as a signal that his administration is serious about transparency. If carried out, the payments could help reduce economic hardship for many retired workers and stimulate the local economy.