Nasarawa Approves ₦1.6 Billion to Clear 2012 Gratuities, Distributes Electric Vehicles to Youths

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has announced the approval of ₦1.6 billion for the payment of gratuities owed to retired civil servants for the year 2012.

Speaking on Thursday in Lafia during the distribution of 100 electric vehicles and tricycles to youths across the state’s 13 Local Government Areas, the governor said the initiative was aimed at empowering young people and boosting entrepreneurship.

Governor Sule noted that his administration had already cleared gratuity payments for retirees who served from 1996 to 2011. “This year, we will fully pay the 2012 batch, amounting to ₦1.6 billion,” he affirmed.

In addition, he revealed that the state would assist local government councils with ₦600 million to support the payment of their own outstanding gratuities.

He expressed concern over the persistent issue of overstaffing at the local government level, which he identified as a major barrier to settling gratuity obligations. “Every year, LGAs accumulate gratuity debts ranging from ₦5 billion to ₦6 billion — it’s unsustainable,” he warned.

Governor Sule urged the State House of Assembly to conduct a thorough audit of the 13 LGAs to determine accurate staffing figures as part of its oversight responsibilities.