RESTORING DIGNITY TO SOKOTO STATE’S PUBLIC SERVICE
By Sani Umar
A vibrant and efficient civil service is indispensable to the success of any government. Beyond political leadership and policy formulation, it is the bureaucracy that translates government vision into tangible results. The civil service serves as the engine room of governance, implementing policies, managing public institutions, and ensuring that government programmes reach the people they are designed to serve.
No administration can effectively achieve its objectives without a motivated, productive, and well supported workforce. Where civil servants are neglected, underpaid, or deprived of the tools necessary to perform their duties, government programmes inevitably suffer. Conversely, when workers are adequately motivated and empowered, service delivery improves, public confidence grows, and development gains momentum.
Recognizing this reality from the outset of his administration, Governor Ahmed Aliyu moved decisively to restore confidence in Sokoto State’s civil service. Determined to reverse years of challenges that had weakened morale and productivity, the governor embarked on a series of reforms aimed at revitalizing the state’s bureaucracy and improving the welfare of workers and retirees alike.
One of the earliest and most significant interventions was the restoration of cash allocations to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Prior to the coming of the present administration, many government institutions struggled to discharge their responsibilities due to lack of operational funding. Basic administrative activities were hampered, affecting efficiency and slowing the implementation of government programmes.
The restoration of these allocations has breathed new life into government establishments. Today, MDAs are better positioned to carry out their statutory functions, respond to public needs, and support the implementation of policies across various sectors. The result is a more responsive and effective public service capable of delivering on the administration’s development agenda.
Equally significant has been the government’s commitment to the prompt payment of salaries and allowances. For many workers, regular salary payments are not merely a matter of convenience; they are a source of financial stability and dignity. Since assuming office, Governor Aliyu has maintained a consistent record of paying salaries as and when due, ensuring that civil servants can meet their obligations without unnecessary hardship.
This departure from past practices has greatly improved morale within the workforce. Workers now carry out their duties with greater confidence, knowing that their welfare is receiving the attention it deserves. The administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare has strengthened trust between government and its employees while fostering a renewed sense of dedication and professionalism.
Perhaps nowhere has the administration’s compassion and sense of responsibility been more evident than in its handling of pension and gratuity liabilities. For years, thousands of retirees endured difficult conditions due to the non-payment of gratuities accumulated over time. Many who devoted their productive years to serving the state found themselves struggling to meet basic needs after retirement.
Determined to address this challenge, Governor Ahmed Aliyu approved the payment of outstanding gratuities amounting to about N16 billion inherited from the previous administration. The intervention has brought relief and hope to countless retirees and their families.
Across Sokoto State, stories abound of retired civil servants who have been able to settle medical bills, complete personal projects, support their families, and regain financial stability following the receipt of their gratuities. The smiles on the faces of these senior citizens stand as a testament to the impact of the government’s action.
Importantly, the administration has not only focused on clearing inherited liabilities. A substantial portion of the backlog has already been settled, while retirees leaving service under the present administration are being paid without being subjected to the prolonged waiting periods that characterized the past. This demonstrates a deliberate effort to institutionalize a sustainable system that protects workers even after retirement.
In another worker-friendly initiative, Governor Ahmed Aliyu recently approved the provision of motorcycles to interested civil servants on a loan basis. The programme, which is currently being accelerated for implementation, is designed to ease transportation challenges faced by workers and improve their mobility.
For many civil servants, transportation constitutes a significant portion of monthly expenses. Access to motorcycles through an affordable loan scheme will not only reduce this burden but also enhance punctuality and productivity. The initiative reflects an administration that understands the everyday realities of its workforce and is willing to provide practical solutions to improve their quality of life.
Taken together, these interventions paint a clear picture of an administration committed to rebuilding the foundations of governance by investing in its most important asset, the people who make government work. Through the restoration of operational funding to MDAs, prompt payment of salaries and allowances, settlement of gratuity arrears, and the introduction of innovative welfare programmes, Governor Ahmed Aliyu has demonstrated that a motivated civil service remains central to achieving sustainable development.
As Sokoto State continues on its path of progress, the revitalization of the civil service stands out as one of the administration’s most consequential achievements. By restoring dignity to workers and retirees alike, the government is not only improving lives but also strengthening the machinery required to deliver lasting development to the people of the state.
Indeed, when the civil service thrives, government succeeds. And in Sokoto State today, the signs of that success are becoming increasingly evident.
