State Government Denies Pension Claims by Abubakar Musa

The state government has publicly defended its refusal to pay pension and severance gratuity to Abubakar Musa, the state's first civilian governor, stating he does not meet the legal requirements for such benefits. Yakubu Ahmed, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, noted that Musa governed from January 1992 to November 1993, totaling approximately 22 months, which is below the two-year minimum stipulated for retirement benefits.

The government responded after Musa alleged that Governor Nasir Idris's administration was withholding money owed to him. Ahmed emphasized that the government's stance is based on constitutional and statutory grounds, highlighting that the 1999 Constitution prohibits retrospective payments for governors who served prior to its enactment.

Despite this, the Idris administration has provided financial assistance to Musa during religious festivities and sponsored his trips to Egypt. Additionally, a hall in the Government House was named after him in 2025, and his son was appointed as a career ambassador.