KATSINA — Governor Dikko Umaru Radda says his administration has paid ₦45.89 billion to clear a backlog of gratuities and death benefits, benefiting 14,560 retirees across the state, local governments, and local education authorities.
The governor disclosed this on Friday during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration held at Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, where he outlined key achievements of his administration in workers’ welfare.
Radda said the payment, which addressed liabilities inherited from 2019, underscores his administration’s commitment to honouring retired workers. He also assured civil servants of continued prompt salary payments, stating that workers receive their salaries on or before the 25th of every month.
The governor announced improved remuneration for health workers, including a revised salary structure for medical doctors and enhanced hazard allowances, alongside ongoing recruitment across critical sectors. He listed the employment of over 1,000 health workers, 724 personnel under the Hospital Services Management Board, and 179 first-class graduates from Umaru Musa Yar’adua University.
He added that 3,814 civil servants were promoted between January and December 2025, while outstanding workers were rewarded with cars and cash incentives as part of efforts to boost morale and productivity.
Radda further disclosed that more than 2,000 civil servants had benefited from training programmes within and outside Nigeria, alongside refurbishment loans granted to over 1,100 workers to upgrade personal assets.
Beyond the civil service, the governor highlighted interventions in agriculture, education, and youth development, including the distribution of 400 tractors, recruitment of over 2,000 teachers, construction of model schools, and disbursement of ₦252 million to young entrepreneurs under the Building Your Future initiative.
He described the theme of this year’s May Day — Insecurity and Poverty: Bane of Decent Work — as a call for unity and collective action toward sustainable development.
In his remarks, Chairman of the organised labour in the state, Hussain Hamisu Yanduna, commended the governor for prioritising workers’ welfare, particularly the clearance of gratuity arrears, which he described as a “landmark act of justice.”
Yanduna also lauded the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage and other worker-friendly policies, including improved security measures and subsidised food programmes, while calling for enhanced workplace safety and social protections.
The event was attended by Speaker of the State House of Assembly Nasir Yahaya Daura, Head of Service Falalu Bawale, and other government officials and labour leaders.
