The Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Sokoto State, Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu, has appealed to Governor Ahmed Aliyu to extend the payment of gratuities to local government retirees in the state.
Comrade Aliyu made the appeal during this year’s May Day rally held in Sokoto. According to him, the last gratuity payment to local government retirees was in 2016, and since then, no further payments have been made.
“This situation has ruined the lives of many retirees and has also affected the educational pursuit of their children,” he stated.
While commending Governor Ahmed Aliyu for clearing the backlog of unpaid gratuities owed to state workers, Comrade Aliyu urged him to apply the same gesture to local government retirees so they can benefit from the fruits of their labour while still alive.
He praised the governor’s foresight in setting aside ₦500 million monthly for settling unpaid gratuities from 2016 and an additional ₦300 million monthly for those retiring from 2023 to date.
“We know you to be a kindhearted person who always wants to see his people comfortable. So, we appeal for your kind intervention in this matter, just as you did for state workers,” Comrade Aliyu said.
He added, “We didn’t want to bother you with this request, as you’ve already done so much for workers even without us asking. But we’re under pressure from local government workers to remind you of their plight.”
In his response, Governor Ahmed Aliyu assured the NLC that his administration would establish a committee to address the issue in the interest of justice and fairness.
“Insha Allah, we will set up a committee to investigate the non-payment of gratuities to local government retirees in the state,” he affirmed.
Governor Aliyu stated that the same procedure used to clear the backlog of gratuities for state workers would be applied to ensure that only genuine retirees are paid.
He called on local government retirees to remain patient, assuring them that the government would soon come to their aid. The governor also expressed gratitude for the continuous prayers and support from the people of Sokoto State, urging them to sustain the momentum.
This was contained in a press release issued by the Governor’s Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa.
5 May 2025
