The Jigawa State Executive Council has approved a jump in the minimum monthly pension for retirees under the State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme from N12,000 to N20,000, a 66.7 percent increase intended to ease economic hardship for pensioners, effective July 1, 2026.
Presiding over the council meeting in Dutse, Governor Umar Namadi approved an additional N2.068 billion in annual spending to fund the higher pension payments. According to a summary of the council’s resolutions signed by Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture Sagir Musa Ahmed, the increase reflects the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of retired public servants in recognition of their contribution to the state’s development.
The same meeting approved a separate N2.136 billion contract to fully electrify four major health facilities across the state using solar power, part of an effort to strengthen healthcare delivery through reliable, sustainable electricity. The benefiting facilities are Birnin Kudu General Hospital, Ringim General Hospital, Kazaure Specialist Hospital and Bulangu Cottage Hospital, and the state government said the project should improve the functionality of these institutions, enhance service delivery and reduce the impact of power shortages on critical medical operations. The council also approved N3.341 billion for the Jigawa State Dairy Production Programme, a strategic intervention meant to transform the livestock sector and boost dairy productivity, which the government said will strengthen the livestock value chain, create jobs and raise household incomes, particularly for communities whose livelihoods depend on farming and livestock. Separately, the council directed the immediate deployment of emergency relief materials to communities affected by recent rainstorms in parts of the state.
