By Abdullahi Alhassan
The Borno State Government has commenced the implementation of promotion benefits for civil servants and approved the immediate payment of 2025 leave grants to eligible workers across the state.
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum approved the measures following a closed-door meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) at the Government House in Maiduguri.
The development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar.
The statement said the decision followed a proposal submitted by the Directorate of Establishment in the Office of the Head of Service, which reviewed the implementation of the national minimum wage policy across various cadres of the state public service.
Following consultations with organised labour, Governor Zulum approved a number of measures aimed at improving workers’ welfare and ensuring the sustainable implementation of the wage reform.
Among the measures is the immediate implementation of promotion benefits for civil servants for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 promotion periods.
The governor also approved the immediate payment of 2025 leave grants to all eligible civil servants.
In addition, the government will undertake a further review of salary arrears owed to workers in secondary and tertiary institutions, with a plan to commence payment by September 2026.
The governor also moved to extend the salary adjustment to local government workers by constituting a task force to develop modalities for implementing the new salary structure at the grassroots level.
The task force, headed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Hon. Sugun Mai Mele, is expected to engage relevant stakeholders, review existing regulations and assess the local government workforce.
It will also recommend practical and sustainable options for implementing the enhanced salary and gratuity structure for local government employees.
Governor Zulum directed the committee to submit its report within two weeks for immediate consideration by the state government.
The governor further directed the Directorate of Establishment to prepare a comprehensive blueprint for fresh recruitment into the state civil service.
According to the statement, the recruitment plan will be guided by an assessment of the existing workforce, identified manpower gaps and the need to fill vacancies in critical professions affected by retirement and loss of skilled personnel.
The meeting with labour leaders forms part of the state government’s continuing engagement with organised labour on the implementation of the national minimum wage and measures to address workers’ welfare concerns in Borno.
