Kebbi State government says it has been paying the new minimum wage and other entitlements, including gratuities, pensions, and death benefits, to all civil servants in the state.
The Head of Service, Alhaji Malami Muhammad Shekare, disclosed this at a joint press briefing in Birnin Kebbi with the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Murtala Usman.
He noted that no civil servant in Kebbi is being owed salaries, pensions, or gratuities, adding that Governor Nasir Idris was the first to implement the new minimum wage of ₦75,000, which is above the Federal Government’s approved rate.
Shekare explained that before implementation, the government engaged the NLC to agree on the ₦75,000 consolidated salary structure recommended by the Congress and accepted by the state government.
According to him, since then, the government has been paying the new wage unfailingly, in consolidated salary structure, embedding leave grant to date, adding that government does not owe any worker salary, pension, gratuity or death benefits.
The Head of Service added that, promotion is not automatic to be promoted; but have to undergo a certain process; in other states, civil servants have to sit for both oral and written examinations, but this is not the case in Kebbi State.
He alao gave a strong warning especially on those circulating false and fake information, inciting industrial disharmony adding that, government would take legal action against the author of the recent false information circulating on social media about the minimum wage.
Similarly, the Kebbi State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Murtala Usman, described the author of the report as an impostor who does not belong to any union be it public, private, or affiliate.
He explained that the individual posted three letters on social media addressed to the Commissioner for Finance, the NLC, and the general workforce.
Comrade Murtala said the person was attempting to create industrial unrest in Kebbi, adding that the government has been paying workers the minimum wage, including a leave grant embedded in the consolidated salary.
COV /SANI DUTSINMA
