Gov. Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto has approved the implementation of the new national minimum wage of N70,000 for state workers, effective Monday.

Abubakar Bawa, press secretary to the governor, disclosed this in a statement issued in Sokoto on Sunday,.

Mr Bawa confirmed that the payment would cover state civil servants, local government employees, and Local Government Education Authorities (LGEA) staff across the state.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the federal government’s new minimum wage policy and fulfills the governor’s promise to improve the welfare of workers in the state.

“Aliyu urges all civil servants in Sokoto to reciprocate this invaluable gesture by demonstrating renewed commitment, hard work, punctuality, and seriousness in their duties.

“The governor further pledges to maintain prompt payment of salaries, by ensuring disbursements between 19th and 22nd of every month,” he said.

Mr Bawa assured the readiness of the present administration to continue to be worker-friendly towards taking the state to greater heights of development.

He also announced that the state government had allocated N500 million monthly to address the backlog of unpaid gratuities, with an additional N300 million earmarked monthly for retirees from 2023 onward.

“Before this administration, workers in the state experienced significant delays in salary payments, often waiting over 50 days instead of the usual 25-30 days.

“However, under Aliyu’s leadership, salaries are now promptly paid, and the backlog of unpaid gratuities is being systematically cleared,” Mr Bawa said.

He noted that the administration was determined to ensure that no civil servant is owed gratuity by the end of the tenure, underscoring its commitment to the welfare of both active and retired workers.

(NAN)