A retired primary school teacher, under Ningi Local Education Authority, Alhmadu Bello Dan Azumi, has threatened to divorce his wives if the government of Bauchi refused to pay his retirement benefits before the end of November.

The teacher, who said his aged mother had earlier stopped him from committing suicide, wanted the full payment of his entitlements (gratuity) totalling One Million Four Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand One Hundred and Twelve Naira Four Kobo (1,495,112.04) and nine pension arrears.

Alhamdu Bello Dan Azumi, who retired in 2016 on grade level 07 step 12 was earlier this year paid N300,000 part payment of his gratuity, but said he wanted his entitlements in full to settle the huge debts he incurred so far.

He threatened that should the government refused to settle him the money in full, he will return the money so far paid to him into the public coffers.

Alhamdu said life has become tough after retirement, especially when debts have continued to stockpile on him, including those he owed.

He debunked claims in some quarters that he is suffering from mental illness.

Alhamdu has also written to a human rights organization in Bauchi to intervene in the case

When contacted the Permanent Secretary Bauchi State Local Government Pension Board said he needed authorization from office of the state Head of Civil Service to speak to press on Alhamdu Bello’s case.

The Permanent Secretary, however, confirmed to Daily Post that Alhamdu had also sent a letter to a human rights organization in Bauchi, which in turn wrote formally to the board.

He said the board is currently working on a reply to the human rights organization.

Another staff of the board, who was also not authorized to speak to the press, told this medium that the board paid Dan Azumi N300,000 earlier in the year because of his predicaments.

According to him, Dan Azumi, who retired in 2016 should not have been paid a dime, because the board at the moment is only settling the entitlements of those staff who retired in 2011.

DAILY POST wanted to know the number of workers who retired under the state local government pension board that were yet to be paid their entitlements and the total amount of money involved, but the Permanent Secretary declined to comment.

However, recall that as at the end of the immediate past Mohammed Abubakar administration, the total amount of retirement benefits owed retired state and local government workers was over N16 billion.