*To implement new national minimum wage
From Abdullahi Shugaba, in Katsina
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has pledged to pay backlog of N48 billion gratuities and death benefits he inherited from the past administrations and to also implement the new national minimum wage for workers in the state.
Radda made the pledge in his address during the Workers Day Celebration observed on May 1 annually across the 36 states of the federation including Katsina State Workers who observed their celebrations at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina.
A release issued to the Citizenship Daily by the the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Malam Ibrahim Kaulah Muhammad said that the Governor has also stressed his commitment to implement the State Contributory Pension Scheme to prevent delays in payments of benefits to workers after retirement.
Kaulah Muhammad said that in line with this objective, the Governor has put in place an evaluation committee, consisting of State, Local Government, and Local Education Authority Staff which swung into action towards the realization of the noble objective.
Governor Radda who announced the approval for the payment of accumulated backlog of gratuities and death benefits amounting to over N48 billion (forty-eight billion naira) he inherited from the previous administration said that the payment will cover the period, from 2023 to date for the retired and deceased staff of state, local government, and Local Education Authority Staff (LEAS).
He explained that the payment will be made in six installments, from January, 2024 to June, 2024.
Governor Radda has also approved the continuation of payment of gratuity from July, 2024, once the outstanding gratuities and death benefits of deceased have been cleared.
According to the statement, Governor Radda’s administration has earmarked the sum of N137 million for human capital development to sponsor 2,263 civil servants for short and long-term training programs.
“The government has also injected over two hundred million naira (N200 million) into the workers’ revolving loan scheme to compliment employee financial needs” The statement added
Governor Radda promised that the Katsina State Government remained focused in its determination to improve the welfare and well-being of its workforce, and that of the entire citizens.
