Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has pledged to pay all outstanding gratuities inherited from the previous administration before leaving office in 2027.

Mr Yahaya pledged while delivering his inaugural speech during his second term swearing-in ceremony at the Pantami Township Stadium Gombe.

He said the previous administration left outstanding unpaid gratuities worth billions of naira for eight years from 2012 to 2019.

The governor said his administration could pay over N7.9 billion, covering four outstanding eight years.

“We will not spend these four years (second term), and Gombe State will owe anyone gratuity by God’s grace. We will try and ensure that everyone is paid the benefits within the next four years,” he said.

The governor said his re-election allowed him to consolidate his first-term gains to do more for the state’s people.

He noted that within the last four years, his administration had met the aspirations and yearnings of the people by investing in critical sectors to improve the well-being and welfare of the people of Gombe.

Mr Yahaya said that now that the elections were over, governance would be prioritised to ensure that the collective interest of Gombe State superseded all other interests and considerations.

He said within the next four years, his administration would focus on economic empowerment and job creation, education and human capital development, healthcare and social welfare, and infrastructural development.

The governor appealed to the state’s people to support his administration, saying that he would strengthen good governance and accountability with their support.

(NAN)