Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has approved the immediate implementation of promotion benefits and payment of leave grants for civil servants across the state.
The approval followed a meeting with leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and National Union of Local Government Employees at the Government House in Maiduguri.
Under the new directive, workers entitled to promotional benefits for the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 exercises will have the benefits implemented immediately.
Zulum also approved the immediate payment of 2025 leave grants to all eligible civil servants. The decisions followed recommendations from the Directorate of Establishment in the Office of the Head of Service on the implementation of the national minimum wage across the state public service.
The governor also directed a review of salary arrears affecting workers in the secondary and tertiary education sectors, with implementation targeted for September 2026.
In addition, Zulum established a task force to examine how the new salary structure and gratuity scheme could be extended to local government workers across Borno State. The committee, headed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, has been given two weeks to submit its recommendations.
The task force is expected to consult stakeholders, review existing regulations and assess the current local government workforce before proposing a sustainable salary structure.
Zulum also directed the Directorate of Establishment to prepare a blueprint for new recruitment into the state civil service.
The proposed recruitment plan will be based on an assessment of existing staff strength, workforce gaps and the need for professionals in critical areas affected by retirement and loss of personnel.
The latest approvals come as Borno continues efforts to implement wage reforms and improve the welfare of public-sector workers.
For civil servants, the decision means outstanding promotion-related benefits and leave payments will begin moving towards implementation after years covered by the approved exercises.
The move also signals the state government's intention to align worker compensation with the broader changes introduced through Nigeria's national minimum wage framework.
The planned review of education-sector salary arrears could provide further relief for affected workers if implementation proceeds as scheduled.
Meanwhile, the proposed review of local government salaries could extend the benefits of the state's wage reforms beyond the core civil service.
Zulum's administration is also expected to consider the recruitment blueprint as the state seeks to address shortages in critical professions and replace personnel lost through retirement.
The combined measures place workers' welfare, salary reforms and workforce renewal at the centre of the latest decisions by the Borno State Government.