Kwara State Government has disbursed full gratuities to more than two thousand retired civil servants, following an extensive verification exercise across the state.
Speaking to our correspondent, Olabode Ahmed, the State Auditor-General, Alhaji Alayande Fatai, said the Technical Committee inaugurated in November has reviewed around seven thousand cases so far.
He explained that although the committee was initially tasked with verifying retirees from 2015 onward, the Governor directed that the exercise be extended to include unpaid beneficiaries dating back to 1997.
According to him, over two thousand retirees have already been cleared and paid 100 percent of their entitlements, with payments made in chronological order, starting from the oldest retirees.
The Auditor-General added that the verification exercise, which commenced on February 2, has recorded nearly a 90 percent turnout and has now been extended to ensure no eligible beneficiary is left out.
He further revealed that the traditional cheque payment system has been replaced with automated bank transfers, allowing verified retirees to receive payment alerts directly in their accounts.
Alhaji Fatai urged all outstanding beneficiaries to come forward for verification before the exercise closes.
On the constitutional mandate of his office, the Auditor-General described it as the Supreme Audit Institution of the state, established under Section 125 (1–6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and reinforced by the Kwara State Public Audit Law, 2021.
He said the office is responsible for auditing the public accounts of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), ensuring strict compliance with financial regulations, and conducting value-for-money audits guided by the principles of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Alhaji Fatai emphasized that the office operates with constitutional, financial, and operational autonomy, with its independence fully protected by law.
He encouraged retirees yet to participate in the verification exercise to take advantage of the extended window, noting, “This is an opportunity for everyone with outstanding claims to be captured.
