Zulum approves promotion benefits, leave grants for civil servants

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has approved the immediate implementation of promotion salaries and payments of leave grants for civil servants across the state.

The implementation of the payments was conveyed in an executive approval granted by Governor Babagana Zulum following a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), held at the Government House, Maiduguri, on Monday.

Zulum issued the directive following the submission of a service proposal by the Directorate of Establishment, Office of the Head of Service, which provided a critical analysis and concrete recommendations for the statewide implementation of the national minimum wage policy across different strata of the state public service.

After an interactive discussion with stakeholders and to ensure the efficient and sustainable implementation of the wage reform, Zulum approved the Immediate implementation of the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 promotional benefits for all civil servants in the state.

Other approvals made include immediate payment of leave grants for all entitled civil servants for 2025 and a review of salary arrears for secondary and tertiary education, with a view to implementation by September 2026.

The governor also established and directed a task force, headed by the Commissioner for the Ministry of Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, to review and submit a proposal for the implementation of the new salary scale and gratuity scheme for local government staff.

Zulum charged the Task Force to consult widely with all stakeholders, review extant regulations, examine existing state-wide local government workforce, and propose viable and sustainable options for a full-scale, state-wide implementation of the enhanced salary scheme for local governments in the state.

The Committee was directed to submit its report in two weeks for speedy consideration.

The Governor also directed the Directorate of Establishment to submit a blueprint for new employment and recruitment into the civil service, based on an internal review of the existing workforce, gap analysis, and need assessment, especially for critical professions and expertise that have been depleted due to retirement and capacity flight.