Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, announced the clearance of a ₦15 billion backlog in gratuities owed to retirees since 2016.

Speaking at the 2025 Worker’s Day celebration at the Giginya Stadium, Sokoto, he revealed that ₦500 million is being released monthly to settle the outstanding liabilities, with an additional ₦300 million allocated for retirees from 2023 onwards.

Governor Aliyu also confirmed that the diverted Sallah gifts meant for local government workers and teachers had been recovered and would be distributed to the rightful beneficiaries in due course.

Emphasizing improvements in workers’ welfare, the Governor highlighted that salary payments are now regular and prompt, occurring between the 19th and 20th of every month. This marks a significant improvement over the delays experienced under the previous administration.

The full implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage for all state, LG, and LGEA workers was another key achievement, restoring dignity to the civil service.

Other accomplishments include the restoration of monthly cash allocations to all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), which had been suspended previously. In addition, training and capacity-building programs have been organized to enhance the professionalism and efficiency of civil servants across the state.

The issue of stagnated promotions was also addressed, with plans to integrate civil servants into the state’s housing policy through an owner-occupier scheme. A new initiative, “Shagon Sauki na Ahmadun Alu,” was launched to provide civil servants with essential commodities at subsidized prices.

In his remarks, the Sokoto State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdullahi Aliyu, praised the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare. He acknowledged the timely salary payments, the implementation of the new minimum wage, and the recovery and distribution of Sallah gifts, which have greatly boosted workers’ morale.

Comrade Abdullahi also thanked the Governor for appointing him as chairman of the state verification committee on ghost workers, which has made significant strides in identifying and eliminating ghost workers, saving public funds.

He assured the administration of the NLC’s continued support in advancing the welfare of workers and improving the living standards of residents in Sokoto State.

The information was contained in a press release issued by the Governor’s Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa.

2nd May, 2025.