The Borno State Government has begun moves to extend the enhanced salary structure to local government workers and is preparing a fresh recruitment exercise to address manpower shortages caused by retirements and the loss of skilled personnel.
Governor Babagana Zulum approved the measures on Monday after a closed-door meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) at the Government House, Maiduguri.
To drive the salary review, the governor constituted a task force headed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, to examine options for implementing the new salary scale and gratuity scheme for local government employees across the state.
The task force is expected to consult relevant stakeholders, review existing regulations and assess the workforce of local government councils before recommending a sustainable framework for implementing the enhanced remuneration.
It has two weeks to submit its report to the governor.
Zulum also directed the Directorate of Establishment to develop a blueprint for fresh employment and recruitment into the state civil service.
The proposed recruitment will be guided by an assessment of the existing workforce, manpower gaps and institutional needs, with priority given to critical professions and areas affected by retirements and the loss of skilled personnel.
The measures are part of the state government’s broader response to the implementation of the national minimum wage and its ongoing efforts to strengthen and reform the public service.
The governor also approved the immediate payment of promotion benefits to civil servants for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 sessions, alongside the payment of 2025 leave grants to all eligible workers.
He further ordered a review of salary arrears owed to workers in the secondary and tertiary education sectors, with a view to possible implementation from September 2026.
According to the state government, the decisions followed a service proposal submitted by the Directorate of Establishment and the Office of the Head of Service, containing analysis and recommendations on the implementation of the national minimum wage across the various levels of the state public service.
The government said the measures were aimed at improving workers’ welfare while ensuring that salary and workforce reforms remained financially sustainable.
