Following complaints from workers in Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal has banned all non-statutory deductions from the salaries of civil servants in the state.
News About Nigeria gathered that examples of such non-statutory deductions include those for cooperative associations and commodity vendors.
The order for the suspension was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
The statement partly reads: “In his resolve to sanitize the Zamfara State payroll system for more efficient management of civil servants’ remuneration—currently inundated with unauthorized and illegal deductions—Governor Dauda Lawal has ordered an immediate halt to all non-statutory deductions from workers’ salaries.
“The decision was made due to numerous complaints about deductions from workers’ salaries, some of which were used to facilitate an illegal surcharge on the workers in the name of cooperatives and commodity loan repayments. Governor Lawal has instructed the Commissioner of Finance to stop all such deductions from workers’ salaries and to communicate this decision to all cooperative societies and commodity vendors.”
The statement further noted that the decision to stop the payments with immediate effect aligns with the governor’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the state.
“The present administration in Zamfara State is committed to implementing measures that support the welfare and development of civil servants. This includes enhancing working conditions, providing necessary resources, and creating a conducive environment to ensure a highly competent, motivated, and productive workforce,” the statement added.
