The long-suffering retirees of the defunct New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN) may finally see, relief as the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, announced that approval has been granted for the payment of their outstanding benefits.

Speaking exclusively to our correspondent in Damaturu during the 11th North East Governors Forum meeting, Governor Yahaya stated unequivocally, “We have approved that payment already and on a serious note, the payment will be soon. This is the only information I can give you on the matter.”

This announcement comes after years of waiting and numerous deaths among the retirees, who are owed an estimated sum of N2.5 billion. Recent findings indicate that the NSGF under Governor Yahaya’s leadership, had reportedly sold the newspaper and its assets for approximately N7 billion to facilitate these payments.

The plight of the NNN retirees has been dire, with the death toll reaching a staggering 110, following the recent passing of Alhaji Aliyu Modibbo Yola on Sunday, April 6th, 2025. Alhaji Modibbo, the first son of former Central Bank Governor, Alhaji Mai Borno, passed away after a brief illness in Yola, Adamawa State. His death was announced on the NSGF Beneficiaries WhatsApp platform by his friend, Magaji Isa Hunkuyi, who lamented the continued loss of retirees while awaiting their entitlements.

Just days before Modibbo’s passing, another retiree, Ado Umar, died at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital in Kaduna, pushing the death toll to 109. Reports also indicate that at least 35 other NNN retirees are currently in urgent need of medical attention in various hospitals, further highlighting the desperate situation many face.