Niger state pension board to start AM ALIVE Biometric verification of Pensioners January 2025.
Niger state Governor,Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago has been commended for the timely provision of fund for the payment of retirement benefits in the state.
The Director general, Niger state pension board, Mallam Nasiru Saidu Namaska made the commendation during the symbolic presentation of cheques to batch eight beneficiaries of state retirees in Minna.
Mallam Nasiru said God Almighty have answered prayers and retirees are happy with the development having waited patiently for years.
“our retirees have prayed for Allah and Allah have answered their prayers by giving the state a God fearing governor who has the welfare of his citizens and retirees at heart, the success of this exercise is for his excellency, farmer governor Umaru Bago”he mentioned.
He disclosed that they have concluded compilation of nine and tenth batch which is due for payment next week and the following week.”we are working tirelessly to meet up with the dateline giving us by the governor and he has mandated me to ensure that each and every retiree in the state collect his retirement benefit as when due”, he stressed.
He then appeal to retirees to kindly exercise patience as each and every retiree in the state will get his retirement benefit paid
Mallam Nasiru also disclosed that the staff of the board are very transparent in this exercise and are committed to due process in the payment of gratuity, he stated”we operate an open door policy anybody should feel free to approach the board with complain if any,”you can also come and see whatever we are doing regards to payment of gratuitous ”
He also assured that the payment process will remain first come first serve as directed by the governor,Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago and no going back on the directive.
He further disclosed that payment of gratuity in batches is the decision of the governor adding that,”it is the governor that has the right and power to decide on how the payments will be,he has decided that we should pay in batches,we will continue to pay in batches until each and every retiree in the state get his retirement benefit”he declared.
He also explained why some retirees names are been skipped from the payment list or batch they belong,according to him once file of a beneficiary is not seen he will not be paid because it is the file that will determines weather a beneficiary have worked for the state or has liability to collect and the exact amount he is to collect, hence the omission.
He use the forum to inform retirees that in January 2025 the board will start “AM ALIVE” biometric verification exercise of pensioners according to him the exercise will enable the state government save cost for meaningful projects in the future and also curb ghost pensioners in the state.
According to him, retiree can go to any commercial bank of his choice in the country, “just walk in and tell them you want to be captured for AM ALIVE verification and you will be captured and a slip will be giving to you as a prove.
He warned that any pensioner who refused to be captured would not be paid his monthly pension,he added.
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