The Zamfara State government has restated its commitment to enhancing the well-being of its workers.
Speaking at a rally on Wednesday during the 2024 May Day celebrations at the JB Yakubu Secretariat Complex in Gusau, Governor Dauda Lawal also emphasized the government’s dedication to actively involving workers in the state’s governance.
According to a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, Governor Lawal pledged to fully implement the six-point agenda of his administration’s Rescue Mission, which will serve as the foundation of the transformation programme.
“My administration recognizes workers’ vital role in delivering services and implementing government policies. Workers and governments are partners in actualizing our people’s dreams of development. Workers serve as the machinery through which the government achieves its goal of providing services to the people,” Governor Lawal said.
“In view of this, we will continue to explore ways of improving your well-being and that of your families, most especially considering the current difficulties being faced as a result of the removal of the oil subsidy and monetary policies that have led to a decline in the value of the naira and unprecedented inflation in the country,” he added.
The Governor highlighted the achievements of his administration within 11 months, including clearing the backlog of inherited salaries, ensuring the prompt payment of current salaries, and extending additional welfare packages to workers.
“To sustain these efforts, the government has implemented mechanisms to ensure that only genuine workers are on our payroll. We are also in consultation with labor on salary and wage review, given the realities of living today,” he continued.
“To improve service delivery, we shall soon unveil our plans for digitizing all government activities and civil service reform to actualize a modern approach to conducting government business,” he further explained.
The Governor also emphasized the government’s determination to block leakages and prevent fraud in government business, as well as its commitment to settling the backlog of gratuity arrears inherited by the administration.
“As soon as we clear the backlog, we shall ensure the prompt payment of gratuities to all retirees from state and local government services. With this act, in sha Allah, workers will no longer have any reason to fear retirement, which often leads to falsifying records to remain in service,” Governor Lawal concluded.
