Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has announced the payment of over ₦13.9 billion in inherited gratuities to retired civil servants and the commencement of major pension reforms across the state and local governments.
The announcement was made in Gusau on Tuesday during the inauguration of the state’s Contributory Pension Implementation Committee.
Lawal said the payments covered outstanding gratuities dating back to 2011, marking a significant milestone in the state’s effort to prioritise pension reform and worker welfare.
A total of 3,824 retirees from the state civil service received over ₦7.9 billion, while 4,833 local government pensioners were paid ₦5.9 billion in backlog entitlements.
“Upon assumption of office in 2023, we immediately established two committees to verify and process all outstanding payments,” Lawal said. “We have also cleared three months of unpaid salaries and allowances for civil and public servants, including judiciary staff.”
Lawal revealed that the state minimum wage, which was ₦7,000 when he took office, has now been raised to ₦70,000 following the federal review in July 2024.
“The previous government passed the ₦30,000 minimum wage law in 2019 but failed to implement it. We rectified that upon assuming office,” he stated.
To further boost morale, Lawal’s administration has introduced a Sallah bonus and a 13th-month productivity bonus for all civil servants. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnering with licensed pension fund administrators to sustain these reforms.
Receiving the report of the implementation committee, the governor praised its members for their dedication and transparency.
