The Kano State Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa has initiated a forum of discussion with critical stakeholders as part of a determined effort to ensure transparency and timely disbursement of death gratuity to the families of deceased civil servants in the state.
The meeting was attended by the Head of Service, Chairman, Kano state Pension Fund Trustees, the Chief Registrar of the state Shari’a Court of Appeal, representing the Grand Khadi and some Management staff of their respective offices.
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This is contained in a statement by the Director Public Enlightenment, Office of the Head of Service, Aliyu Yusuf, a copy of which was made available to The Punch on Thursday.
“During the meeting, issues bothering the delay in the payment of death gratuity were discussed, resulting in certain vital resolutions,” he said.
He said, “It was observed that the pension Fund trustees has been discharging their duties by remitting the monies to the Shari’a Courts for onward disbursements as death gratuities to the families of the deceased civil servants that instituted a legal suits in courts demanding for their payments according to legal injunctions.
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“After thorough discussions, it was resolved that the payment procedure by the courts which has been automated for the purpose of transparency, accountability and avoidance of irregularities should be sustained,” he said.
Yusuf added that the meeting had also resolved that the state Pension Fund Trustees should maintain status quo by ensuring thorough screening of the files of the deceased as well as attaching remittances with the authentic list of the beneficiaries to the Shari’a Courts for payments.
Similarly, it was agreed that a sub- committee of three persons should be constituted comprising of the Head of Service as chairman, while the Grand Khadi of the Shari’a Court of Appeal and the Executive Chairman of the State Pension Fund Trustees should serve as members with a view to looking into grey areas militating against the smooth payments and suggest viable ways of reversing the ugly trend by fast tracking the exercise.
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“Among other resolutions reached was that the committee will meet with Khadis of the Shari’a Courts and finance clerks to discuss on how best the payment exercises should be conducted with minimal hitches,” Yusuf said.
He said in addition, It was also agreed that the forum will reconvene at a later date at the office of the Head of Service to review their findings for adoption and necessary action.
