The Gombe State Government has approved over N10 billion for the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired civil servants at both the state and local government levels.
The approval was among the major decisions reached at the 56th meeting of the Gombe State Executive Council (SEC), presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
The decisions were disclosed on Wednesday during a post-EXCO briefing addressed by the Commissioner for Information, Amb. Moses Kyari, alongside other commissioners whose ministries had memoranda considered by the council.
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, said the council approved N2.18 billion and N4.06 billion to settle outstanding gratuities owed state retirees for 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Magaji said the latest approval brings the administration’s total expenditure on inherited gratuity liabilities at the state level to more than N36.5 billion, adding that all outstanding state-level gratuity liabilities had now been cleared.
At the local government level, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Barr. Sani Ahmad Haruna, said N4.08 billion was approved to settle outstanding gratuities owed retirees across the 11 local government areas.
He explained that the periods covered vary according to the outstanding liabilities and financial capacity of each council.
According to him, the approvals cover Akko for 2019; Balanga, 2018 to 2023; Billiri, 2019 to 2025; Dukku, 2018 to 2022; Funakaye, 2025; Gombe, 2017 to 2022; Kaltungo, 2017 to 2023; Kwami, 2025; Nafada, 2025; Shongom, 2019 to 2023; and Yamaltu/Deba, 2017 and 2018.
The council also approved N6.1 billion as Gombe State’s 50 per cent counterpart contribution to the 2026 Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund.
Commissioner for Education, Prof. Aishatu Umar Maigari, said the contribution would enable the state to participate in the HOPE-EDU programme, which builds on the gains recorded under the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) programme.
She said the intervention would focus on improving learning outcomes, enrolling out-of-school children, teacher recruitment and strengthening basic education, alongside a Track and Trace initiative to monitor beneficiaries.
The council also approved road projects, including a N1.6 billion variation for the Gadam-Yame-Yari road being executed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAMP).
Another 4.3-kilometre Kembu-Kidda-Panda road spur, linking Nasarawo to Kuri, was awarded at N2.04 billion under the RAMP project.
Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Muhammad Saidu Fawu, said N2.1 billion was approved for the expansion of Nayi-Nawa School at Buhari Estate into the existing Gombe Club premises.
He said the council also approved the installation of 563 solar-powered streetlights in Nasarawo, Yelenguruza and Commercial Area communities, while another 522 would be installed in Bolari, the city centre behind the Central Bank of Nigeria and along Dass Road.
The commissioner added that renovation of the Ministry of Women Affairs was approved, while N423 million was approved as variation for the ongoing upgrade of the International Airport, Lawanti.
He further disclosed that the council approved the construction of a recreational centre in Shehu Abubakar District to replace the old Gombe Club, with Circle Design awarded the project.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism also secured approval for projects valued at N3.3 billion at the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, including a road linking B2 to the 132/133kVA facility, infrastructure maintenance, gully erosion control and construction of a gatehouse.
In the health sector, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Adamu Danladi Bojude, said the council approved the handover of the Kaltungo Snake Bite Treatment and Research Hospital to the Federal Government for conversion into the newly approved National Snake Bite and Medical Centre.
He also announced approval for a statewide free surgical and medical outreach targeting less-privileged residents across communities in the state’s 11 local government areas.
On security, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Adamu Dishi Kupto, said Gombe was among the states selected to benefit from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of new military formations.
He said the state would host the 27 Armoured Brigade and its Garrison, as well as the 271 Tank Battalion in Bajoga and the 272 Tank Battalion in Kaltungo.
According to him, the new formations are expected to strengthen the state’s security architecture and enhance military operations across the sub-region.
Kupto added that Governor Yahaya had approved temporary sites and provided necessary logistical support to facilitate the immediate take-off of the formations.