By Lawal Gwanda
The Katsina State Government has stepped up efforts to address outstanding gratuity obligations while strengthening the regular payment of salaries, pensions and other entitlements owed to workers and retirees across the state.
The development was disclosed by the State Chairman of the Concerned Civil Servants Forum for Good Governance, Alhaji Ya’u Hassan Fardemi, during the Forum’s ongoing sensitisation tour of Baure, Zango and Sandamu Local Government Areas.
Fardemi said the administration of Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda had committed billions of naira towards clearing accumulated gratuity liabilities, alongside measures aimed at improving the welfare of serving civil servants and pensioners.
According to him, the reforms are also designed to ensure that workers receive their promotions promptly and that salary and pension payments are made more consistently.
He explained that the Forum’s statewide tour was conceived to take its message directly to civil servants and other stakeholders in the 34 local government areas, particularly on policies and programmes introduced by the state government.
He said the engagement would also provide an opportunity for workers and retirees to understand the government’s interventions and welfare measures, while allowing the Forum to gather feedback from local communities.
The Chairman recalled that the Forum had earlier announced plans to visit all 34 local government areas as part of its efforts to promote awareness of government policies affecting civil servants and retirees.
Also speaking, the Forum’s Director of Local Government Affairs, Alhaji Kabir Dayyabu Safana, said workers and pensioners had benefited from several interventions introduced under the current administration.
Safana said the measures were aimed at improving workers’ welfare, raising productivity and strengthening service delivery across both state and local government institutions.
He urged civil servants to remain informed about government policies and make constructive contributions towards improving public administration.
In separate remarks, representatives of the three local governments commended the state government’s interventions in the areas of workers’ welfare and institutional development.
Baure Local Government Chairman, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Alhaji Hassan Machika; Zango Chairman, Hon. Babangida Yardaje; and Sandamu Chairman, Hon. Usman Nalado, acknowledged the importance of initiatives aimed at improving the working conditions of civil servants and retirees.
They also highlighted the need for continued collaboration between the state government, local councils and workers to sustain improvements in service delivery.
A major highlight of the visits was the inauguration of Forum officials in each of the local government areas visited.
The Forum said the appointments would strengthen its presence at the grassroots and facilitate continued engagement with civil servants on issues concerning welfare, government policies and public service delivery.
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