Bauchi Governor’s Son Charges Father to Clear Pension Gratuities, Prioritise Youth Empowerment

Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed, son of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has publicly appealed to his father to fast-track the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired civil servants and introduce more comprehensive youth empowerment programmes aimed at tackling rising economic hardship in the state.

Shamsuddeen made the appeal in a Facebook post published on Wednesday under the title, “Bridging the Gap: A Call for a Human-Capital Focused Policy.” In the post, he acknowledged the achievements of the Bala Mohammed administration in infrastructure development but argued that greater attention should now be directed toward improving the welfare and economic prospects of residents.

According to him, the governor’s investment in roads, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure over the past seven years has laid a strong foundation for the state’s development and will remain a lasting legacy.

He, however, noted that despite the visible infrastructural transformation across Bauchi State, many citizens, particularly young people and retired civil servants, continue to struggle with economic challenges that require urgent government intervention.

“The infrastructure projects our roads, schools, and hospitals stand as a testament to your vision and legacy. These are milestones that future generations will celebrate,” Shamsuddeen wrote.

“However, as we approach 2027, I feel a responsibility to bring to your attention a brewing disconnect between this commendable infrastructure drive and the immediate economic reality of our people.”

He stressed that many families remain under financial pressure because retired civil servants are yet to receive their gratuities, describing the delay as a major source of hardship for affected households.

“The prevailing sentiment on the ground is that while infrastructure is vital, it does not alleviate the immediate economic hardship, the struggle for daily sustenance, or the pain of families still awaiting civil service gratuities,” he stated.

Shamsuddeen further warned that frustration was mounting among young people in the state, many of whom he said had consistently supported the present administration but were now seeking greater economic opportunities rather than temporary relief.

“There is a boiling point of agitation. Our youth are not merely asking for handouts; they are asking for a stake in the prosperity of their state,” he added.

To address the situation, he urged the Bauchi State Government to adopt what he described as a “Social-Economic Empowerment Pivot,” a policy direction centred on human capital development, entrepreneurship and job creation.

Among the recommendations he proposed were the establishment of seed funding initiatives for youth-led start-ups, the provision of capital grants for small and medium-scale enterprises, and the introduction of policies compelling contractors handling government projects to prioritise the employment of qualified local youths.

He also encouraged the state government to draw lessons from successful empowerment models implemented in other parts of the world, insisting that sustainable development should focus not only on physical infrastructure but also on investing directly in people.

“We should explore global models of productive inclusion. Let us shift the focus from solely building the state to investing in the citizen,” he said.

The intervention by the governor’s son has generated public attention, coming at a time when many state governments are under pressure to improve citizens’ welfare amid rising living costs and growing demands for employment opportunities and social support programmes.