State government says the payments followed a verification exercise to confirm that the new employees had reported to their assigned offices.
The Sokoto State Government has commenced salary payments to 3,100 newly recruited civil servants following a verification exercise designed to confirm that the workers had reported to their respective duty posts.
The Head of the Sokoto State Civil Service, Abdulkadir Ahmed, announced the commencement of the payments on Tuesday, October 13, during an official ceremony at the Cabinet Office in Sokoto.
Ahmed explained that the verification process was necessary to establish that the newly employed workers were physically present at the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to which they had been assigned before their names were enrolled for salary payments.
He said the recruitment formed part of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promise to create employment opportunities for unemployed residents of the state.
The exercise represents an addition to the state government’s efforts to expand its workforce and provide more residents with access to formal employment.
Government emphasises accountability and service delivery
Ahmed urged the newly recruited civil servants to demonstrate punctuality, discipline, dedication and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
He stressed that securing public employment carried an obligation to serve residents effectively, adding that the workers’ commitment would be important to improving service delivery across government institutions.
The verification requirement also underscores the importance of ensuring that public funds allocated for salaries are paid to legitimate employees who have assumed their assigned responsibilities.
Beyond recruitment, the Head of Service highlighted the administration’s skills acquisition and empowerment programmes, through which women and young people have received vocational training, equipment and start-up grants to establish businesses and pursue self-employment.
The initiatives, according to the state government, are intended to widen economic opportunities beyond conventional civil service employment.
The commencement of salaries marks an important stage in the recruitment process, although the long-term impact will depend on how effectively the new employees contribute to public institutions and how consistently the government sustains its employment and empowerment programmes.