The Bauchi State Government has approved the payment of monthly stipends to Islamic and Christian clerics across the state, in a move it says is aimed at supporting religious leaders and promoting inclusiveness.
The decision was reached on Friday during a meeting of the Bauchi State Economic Council, presided over by Governor Bala Mohammed and attended by top officials from the finance, budget and revenue sectors.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Head of the Civil Service, Barrister Mohammed Sani Umar, said the approval covers Imams of Juma’at mosques as well as Pastors from different Christian denominations in the state.
According to Umar, the stipends will be paid without bias or religious preference, stressing that the policy is designed to benefit all recognised religious leaders equally.
“The council has approved monthly stipends for Imams of Juma’at mosques and Pastors of various Christian denominations across Bauchi State, and the implementation will be done without discrimination,” he said.
He added that the government is currently assessing the financial implications of the policy to ensure that it is implemented in a sustainable manner.
Umar also disclosed that the council approved the commencement of salary payments to newly appointed Emirs and District Heads, noting that necessary cash flow arrangements have already been put in place to support the decision.
In a related development, the Governor’s Chief Economic Adviser, Alhaji Yahuza Adamu Haruna, revealed that a recent review of the state’s payroll uncovered more than 3,000 ghost workers.
Haruna said the payroll audit, conducted in partnership with Onyx Investment Advisory Limited, resulted in savings of over ₦4.16 billion for the state government.
He further explained that the Bauchi State Government assumed full responsibility for salary payments in August 2024, adding that since then, complaints over salary delays and irregularities have significantly reduced.