By Abigail Philip David
The Sokoto State Government, led by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, has commenced the immediate implementation of the new N70,000 national minimum wage for state civil servants, local government employees, and staff of the Local Government Education Authority.
The policy officially took effect on Monday.
In a statement released by the governor’s Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa, Governor Aliyu described the move as a commitment to improving the welfare of workers in the state. He urged civil servants to respond with greater dedication and professionalism in their duties.
“With the commencement of the payment of this new national minimum wage, we expect renewed commitment, hard work, punctuality, and, above all, seriousness from our civil servants,” the statement quoted him as saying.
The governor further reassured workers of his administration’s commitment to timely salary payments, promising that salaries would continue to be disbursed between the 19th and 22nd of every month. This consistency, he said, reflects Sokoto’s status as a worker-friendly state.
In addition to the minimum wage implementation, Governor Aliyu has prioritized settling outstanding gratuities for retired workers. The government has allocated N500 million monthly to clear unpaid gratuities and an additional N300 million for retirees who left service from 2023 onward.
“This strategic approach ensures that by the end of my administration, no civil servant will be owed gratuities,” the governor emphasized.
He also contrasted the current progress with past administrations, where salary payments were delayed for over 50 days, creating financial instability for workers. Governor Aliyu assured workers that his administration would continue to prioritize their welfare and financial stability.
