Katsina State Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda has cautioned retired civil servants against marrying a new wife, advising instead that they invest their money wisely.

The Governor made the remarks while addressing retired civil servants at the launch of the disbursement of ₦41 billion in accrued benefits for both state and local government retirees. He acknowledged that marrying after retirement is a tradition that is difficult to change.

“Some retired civil servants, after receiving their long-awaited benefits, end up spending the money unwisely. Some retired servants appear wretched just a few months after receiving their gratuities because they spent their money inappropriately,” he said.

Governor Radda noted that the current payment, covering benefits up to October 2025, brings the total amount released by his administration since inception to ₦45.89 billion for 14,560 beneficiaries across state and local governments.

He explained that settling outstanding pension liabilities was one of his primary visions before contesting for office, emphasising the importance of treating retirees with dignity and respect.

“From the time I started contemplating the idea of contesting for the seat of Katsina State Governor, one of my main visions was to develop a workable strategy to settle all outstanding benefits for workers who have retired and for those who died while in active service,” Radda stated.

He disclosed that the State and Local Government Pension Reform Committee had verified a total liability of ₦23.99 billion as of August 2023, comprising ₦10.35 billion for state staff and ₦13.64 billion for local government and local education authority workers.

The governor revealed that, from inception to date, ₦18.56 billion was approved for 4,743 state beneficiaries, while ₦27.33 billion was released for 9,817 local government and local education authority beneficiaries.

Governor Radda announced the signing of the New Contributory Pension Law 2025, describing it as a historic reform aligned with global best practices to eliminate administrative bottlenecks and ensure prompt payment of benefits.

He inaugurated the Katsina State Pension Bureau, chaired by Alhaji Ibrahim Boyi, and the Katsina State Pension Transition Board, chaired by Alhaji Garba Sanda, to oversee the implementation of the new pension scheme.

The governor disclosed that, as of 31 December 2025, the Pension Bureau had collected over ₦19 billion in combined employer and employee contributions, generating more than ₦668 million in investment income since June 2025.

Radda commended the state civil service, describing it as vibrant, professional, and efficient, while assuring workers of continuous improvements in conditions of service, timely promotions, and expanded training opportunities.

He assured that the final payment of accrued liabilities marked a new beginning, pledging that no retired worker would leave service with unfulfilled entitlements or lingering uncertainties. (Nigerian Tribune)