Abuja: The Kebbi Government has confirmed that it remains prompt in the disbursement of the new minimum wage and other related entitlements, such as gratuities and pensions to retirees, along with death benefits.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Malam Malami Shekare, the Head of Civil Service (HoS) of the state, addressed the media in Birnin Kebbi to dispel rumors circulating on social media that implied otherwise. Shekare highlighted that Governor Nasir Idris is actively implementing the new minimum wage of N75,000, which surpasses the N70,000 endorsed by the Federal Government.
The clarification came following an online report that alleged defaults in the payment of workers’ entitlements by the Kebbi government, including the new minimum wage. Shekare affirmed that prior to the wage implementation, discussions were held with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which suggested the N75,000 figure, subsequently accepted by the administration. The government has since been consistent in paying the new wage, which includes a consolidated salary with leave grants.
The HoS further emphasized that there are no outstanding payments owed to workers, whether in salaries, pensions, gratuities, or death benefits to retirees. He noted that promotions within the state are not automatic, as workers must fulfill certain procedures, unlike in other states where examinations are required.
Shekare also cautioned that legal action would be pursued against the author of the false social media report, labeling it as malicious and misleading. The intention behind the report, he suggested, was to mislead the public.
Supporting Shekare’s statement, the Chairman of NLC in the state, Murtala Usman, criticized the report’s author as an impostor unaffiliated with any union, public or private. Usman reported that the individual had posted letters on social media aimed at the Commissioner for Finance, NLC, and general workers, attempting to incite industrial unrest, an outcome that the NLC is determined to prevent.