Nigeria joined the world community in marking Workers’ Day, and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State reaffirmed the state’s dedication to workers’ welfare, pension settlement, and reforms in the civil sector.
The governor, speaking at Kano’s May Day festivities, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to treating current and former employees fairly and with dignity, and he emphasised that paying off pension debts is a top priority.
The ability to pay off all debts owed to long-serving state pensioners “is in the interest of equity and fairness,” he stated.
“The rights and dignity of workers are being upheld by this administration.”
He said that Kano is one of the first states to embrace the new minimum wage structure of N71,000, and that the state has kept salary payments regular and introduced a progressive wage strategy.
He claims that workers are feeling the effects of economic pressures and that the program is an attempt to raise living standards generally.
There has been “bold action” to improve workers’ welfare, and “we have maintained prompt and full payment of salaries,” he added.
Among the administrative changes emphasised by the governor were the creation of the Local Government Service Commission and other institutional reforms that have improved career advancement opportunities and standardised the public sector.
Concerning retirement benefits, he announced that the state’s minimum pension has been raised from N5,000 to N20,000, characterising the change as a major initiative to better the lives of elderly people.
“Our commitment has been proven not just through words but also through tangible actions,” he emphasised.
In addition, he detailed continuing programs that help government employees expand their skills, such as courses in leadership development, financial management, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
The governor stated that programs like professional development workshops and pre-retirement training aim to better equip government employees for life after service while also improving government efficiency.
We aim to create a civil service that is competent, modern, and forward-thinking so that it can fulfil the needs of modern governance, he stated.
Workers’ representatives, labour leaders, and government officials gathered in Kano for May Day to celebrate current reforms and demand their continued execution.