Not long after retiring from active service in 2016, Umar Mohammed, a 64-year old pensioner in Kano state was involved in a ghastly accident that cut short his retirement joy and almost cost his leg.
After the accident, Mohammed, who retired as a Dala Local Government staff on Grade Level 10 had opted for local treatment as he could not afford to go to hospital as a low income earner with 16 children and 2 wives.
However, as the local treatment turned unsuccessful, Mohammed’s family had no option than to take him to hospital where he was charged N250,000 for surgery or lose the leg.
READ ALSO: Governor Yusuf flags off payment of N6bn gratuities to 5,500 Kano retirees
The family had to struggle to rise the money and Mohammed had a successful surgery, which within a short period of time healed and he continued to go about his business.
Mohammed is among the 5,500 retirees to receive their outstanding retirement benefits, an unprecedented feat recorded by governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state.
In an interview with BizPoint correspondent, the pensioner said he was elated to have received the news that the state governor had announced settlement of their outstanding entitlements.
According to him, he had been struggling to get the money to pay for the second surgery after he sustained another injury, which left him walk on crutches for almost half a decade.
This time around, the father of 16 was presented with a medical bill of N650,000 for a surgery, the amount he had been waiting for about six years until yesterday when the governor launched the commencement of the payment of their entitlements.
Narrating his ordeal, Mohammed, who said he solely depended on his monthly pension of not more than N44,000 to fend for his large family size, admitted that he is in economic hardship.
“It was a nightmare. I did not enjoy my retirement since retiring in 2016. Not long after the retirement, i was riding my motorcycle, a motorist hit me where i sustained a fracture on my right leg.
“It was a hard time as I suffered a lot after I had a local treatment and I don’t have money to go to hospital. My family had no option than to rush me to hospital where they charged N25000 for the surgery..We raised the money and the surgery was conducted.
“Not long, i sustained another injury. It is worse than the first one. When i was taken to the hospital, they said i will have to pay N650,000 for surgery. Now i have been walking with these crutches for over five years.
“I solely depended on my gratuity. I struggled a lot to get it in order to settle my surgery fee but to no avail.
“That is why i am very happy and elated with this development. Now i am very happy that i am on queue to collect my entitlements.
“I will use the money for my surgery. I am highly gratitude to Almighty Allah to see this day. I can’t thank governor Abba enough. May Allah protect him and give him success in all what he chooses to do in life.
“We are grateful to His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Now i can’t wait to see me walking on my feet without crutches. Governor Abba really saved my leg ,” the visibly elated pensioner prayed.