Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu
Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu has approved the early payment of March salaries for civil servants in the state ahead of the forthcoming Eid al-Fitr celebration.
The directive, which takes effect from Friday, March 13, 2026, is aimed at enabling workers and pensioners to prepare adequately for the festive period.
The approval was conveyed in a statement issued by the Director-General of Media and Publicity to the governor, Abubakar Bawa.
According to the statement, the payment will cover workers in the state civil service, employees of the 23 local government councils, staff of the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs), as well as pensioners across the state.
Governor Aliyu reportedly gave the directive while in Saudi Arabia where he is currently observing the Lesser Hajj.
While announcing the decision, the governor appealed to civil servants to reciprocate the gesture through dedication and commitment to duty.
“We expect our civil servants to be punctual, hardworking, committed, and above all, sincere in the discharge of their responsibilities,” he said.
Aliyu noted that the appeal became necessary in view of the important role civil servants play in achieving his administration’s Nine-Point Smart Innovative Agenda, which he said is designed to build a more prosperous Sokoto State.
He explained that since assuming office, his administration has prioritised the welfare of workers through the prompt payment of salaries, settlement of inherited gratuity backlogs, regular payment of pensions and the restoration of monthly imprest to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The governor also reaffirmed his government’s resolve to strengthen the public service through capacity development and improved working conditions.
“We have recently recruited 3,000 workers, to be deployed to various MDAs as part of efforts to enhance productivity within the workforce and ensure an effective division of labour across government institutions,” he said.
According to him, the recruitment exercise has also helped to reduce unemployment in the state.
Governor Aliyu further urged senior civil servants across MDAs to guide and mentor the newly recruited staff who will soon be deployed to their respective departments.
He stressed that knowledge transfer within the workforce would help strengthen the state civil service and improve service delivery.
The governor also called on workers to continue supporting his administration in delivering its campaign promises under the Nine-Point Smart Innovative Agenda.
Aliyu equally thanked the people of the state for their prayers, cooperation and sustained support for his government.
