In a statement by its spokesperson, Alhaji Yusuf Idris, the APC accused the state government of neglecting workers' welfare despite receiving substantial federal allocations. Idris claimed the workers were unjustly terminated after a 2023 verification exercise, even though none were found guilty of misconduct.
“These workers, with 10 to 20 years of service, were abruptly dismissed and left without salaries for nearly 10 months, pushing them into poverty,” Idris said. He alleged the dismissals were politically motivated, targeting those perceived as sympathetic to opposition parties.
Idris further reported that many affected workers had resorted to public prayers at the Gusau Eid ground, seeking divine intervention. He urged the government to reinstate them and settle unpaid salaries to prevent worsening insecurity in the state.
Government’s Response
Governor Lawal’s Special Assistant on Media, Mustafa Kaura, dismissed the APC’s claims, attributing the workers’ plight to past administrations. He blamed former Governor Bello Matawalle (now Minister of State for Defence) and ex-Governor Abdulaziz Yari for unpaid pensions and salaries dating back to 2014.
Kaura stated that Governor Lawal had cleared three months of salary arrears left by Matawalle and initiated gratuity payments for retirees up to 2024. “Efforts are ongoing to settle recent retirees,” he added.
The APC, however, insisted that the state’s monthly federal allocation (N19bn–N30bn) and local revenue (N2bn) were mismanaged, alleging the governor prioritized personal indulgence over workers’ welfare.