Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved the immediate implementation of promotion benefits for civil servants for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 sessions and the payment of 2025 leave grants to all entitled workers across the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, announced this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Maiduguri, following a closed-door meeting between the governor and leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) at the Government House. The measures are aimed at addressing outstanding employment benefits and providing financial relief to eligible civil servants.
Tar said the approvals followed recommendations from the Directorate of Establishment in the Office of the Head of Service after the meeting with organised labour.
He said the governor also directed a review of salary arrears owed workers in secondary and tertiary education institutions to determine the extent of the outstanding liabilities and facilitate the implementation of payments by September 2026.
Zulum also constituted a task force to examine the implementation of the new salary scale and gratuity scheme for local government workers.
According to Tar, the task force will be headed by Sugun Mai Mele, Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, and will consult relevant stakeholders and review existing regulations governing local government workers.
He said the task force would also assess the local government workforce and identify factors relevant to implementing the proposed salary and gratuity arrangements.
The task force is expected to submit its report to the governor within two weeks of commencing its assignment.
The governor further directed the Directorate of Establishment to prepare a blueprint for new employment and recruitment across the state.
Tar said the blueprint would be based on identified workforce gaps and the need to recruit professionals in critical areas.
He said the latest measures followed the government’s engagement with organised labour and reflected the administration’s efforts to address workers’ welfare, employment needs and outstanding financial obligations.
“This followed a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the NLC, TUC and NULGE at the Government House, Maiduguri, on Monday,” Tar said.
