By Abdullahi Alhassan
Borno State Governor, Professor. Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the immediate implementation of promotion benefits and the payment of leave grants for civil servants across the state.
The approvals were announced after a closed-door meeting with leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, and the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, held at the Government House in Maiduguri.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Professor. Usman Tar.
According to the statement, the directive followed the submission of a service proposal by the Directorate of Establishment in the Office of the Head of Service. The proposal provided analysis and recommendations on the state-wide implementation of the national minimum wage policy across different cadres of the state public service.
After consultations with labour leaders, Governor Zulum approved three key measures to ensure efficient and sustainable implementation of the wage reform.
The approvals include Immediate implementation of promotional benefits for all civil servants for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 sessions.
Also Immediate payment of leave grants for all entitled civil servants for the 2025 session. A further review of salary arrears for staff of secondary and tertiary institutions, with a view to implementing payment by September 2026.
In a move to extend the wage adjustment to the local government level, the governor also constituted a task force to work out modalities for the new salary structure.
The task force will be headed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Mele. It is mandated to consult widely with stakeholders, review existing regulations, examine the current local government workforce, and propose viable and sustainable options for a full-scale implementation of the enhanced salary and gratuity scheme for local government staff.
Governor Zulum directed the committee to submit its report within two weeks for prompt consideration by the state government.
In addition, the governor directed the Directorate of Establishment to develop a blueprint for fresh employment and recruitment into the civil service. The plan is expected to be based on an internal review of the existing workforce, gap analysis, and needs assessment, with focus on critical professions and expertise depleted by retirement and capacity flight.
The labour meeting was part of ongoing engagements by the Borno State Government to align with the national minimum wage policy while addressing welfare issues affecting workers in the state.
