Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has issued a directive for all Lagos government employees to receive N35,000 in palliatives and 50 per cent of their basic monthly salaries as bonuses to cap the year, according to a circular seen by Peoples Gazette.

The circular released on December 14 by his head of service, Bode Agoro, said Mr Sanwo-Olu “approved the payment of 50 per cent of basic salary as end-of-year bonus for all political appointees and public servants, including employees of local governments and local council development areas, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.”

“In the same vein, Mr. Governor has further approved the implementation of the wage award (palliative) pending the review of the national minimum wage,” it added.

Beneficiaries will not pay tax on the bonus, based on the governor’s directive, which classified it as a “non-taxable element.”

Mr Sanwo-Olu says the move was to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to bettering the welfare of state workers and appreciate them for all of their services. 

The announcement came weeks after the governor was exposed for wasteful use of taxpayer funds to the of billions of naira, including N200 million in attorney fees for services rendered to him in his personal capacity.