The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abubakar Bello

  • Niger approves N576m for pension payments

    The Niger government has approved N576 million for the payment of 413 pensioners in the state.

    The Director-General of the state’s Pension Board, Alhaji Tinau Mohammed, told newsmen on Wednesday in Minna that Gov. Abubakar Bello gave the approval on March 3.

    He said that the money would be used to pay pensions of eight retired permanent secretaries, one head of service and civil servants in five Local Government Areas of the state.

    The Local Governments include, Lapai, Chanchaga, Lavun, Shiroro and Agaie.

    Mohammed explained that a committee headed by Alhaji Munde Lapai, the former Head of Service was constituted by the State Government to investigate the payment of pensions in the past.

    “Investigation by the committee revealed that N112 million was released for the payment of 953 pensioners under the old pension scheme.

    “The payment was divided into three batches– in the first batch, 14 Local Governments qualified and N630 million was released for payment of 549 pensioners.

    “In the second batch, six Local Governments qualified and N490 million was paid to 404 pensioners.

    “Now in the third batch, 413 pensioners will be paid N576 million,’’ he said.

    The director-general said that the same committee had been mandated to evaluate retirees under the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for prompt payment.

    He said the evaluation revealed that 3,880 retired civil servants were under the CPS and that they were valued to be paid N7.5 billion.

    Mohammed assured that the government was committed to the welfare of retired civil servants by ensuring prompt payment of their pensions and gratuity.

     

  • Niger: Bello condoles with victims of fire disaster

    Niger: Bello condoles with victims of fire disaster

    Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger has condoled with victims of the fire disaster that claimed several lives and property in Jatai Maitumbi of Bosso local government areas of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on Monday that the incident occurred on Feb. 20 at about 3.30 a.m. when a high tension electric cable fell on residential houses.

    The inferno occasioned by the accident killed a Ward Head, his son and a Police Inspector in the community.

    NAN also reports that several houses were razed by the fire.

    Bello, who sympathised with the victims, said a committee would be set up to investigate the cause of the disaster.

    He directed Mr. Akubuko Mazi, Deputy Regional Manager, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), to formally report the incident to the government.

    “The loss is very difficult to understand. I urged you to write a report to your Head Office, stating exactly what happened while we wait for response.

    “As a government we will give our assistance to the families of the deceased,” he said.

    One of the victims, Mr. Audu Tanko, whose house was razed by fire, told NAN that “I was in the market when my wife called me that my house was on fire.

    “I quickly rushed back home only to see my house on fire.

    “I remember when officials of Power Holding Company came to connect high tension lines to Gurusu village. I explained to them that it was risky to connect high tension lines on top the wires that connect my house.

    “But they refused to adhere to what I told them. Look at the damages their carelessness has caused. They have left I and my family homeless,” he said.

    NAN also gathered that the deceased Police Inspector, Mr. Abu Gani, is survived by his wife and five children, while the Ward Head, Alhaji Tanko Saidu, left behind four wives and 27 children.