Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State says the state is reaping the benefits of the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy, describing the policy as a necessary reform to save the nation’s economy from collapse.
Speaking during the presentation of cheques and payment of backlog of gratuities to state and local government retirees in Gombe on Tuesday, Yahaya said the decision had led to a significant rise in federal allocations to states, enabling them to execute more impactful projects.
He praised President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, noting that although the measures were painful, they were essential for long-term national growth and stability.
“We are able to do more developmental projects in the state because of the increased allocations as a result of subsidy removal,” the governor said. “The reforms are necessary, though painful, but when things are fixed properly, the benefits will be worth it.”
On pension payments, Yahaya announced the disbursement of ₦8.2 billion to settle gratuity arrears for 3,204 retirees across the state and local governments. Of the total amount, ₦6.6 billion will go to 2,142 state government retirees covering 2021 to 2023, while ₦1.6 billion will be paid to 1,062 local government retirees.
“With today’s disbursement, our cumulative gratuity payment has reached a historic ₦33.826 billion since 2019,” he stated. “No previous administration in Gombe’s history has shown a comparable commitment to the welfare of our retirees.”
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to improving the welfare of workers and pensioners, saying that sustained economic reforms would continue to translate into tangible benefits for the people of Gombe State.
