Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has mandated the immediate cessation of all non-statutory deductions from civil servants’ salaries, aiming to address grievances over unauthorized payroll cuts. The decision followed mounting complaints from workers, prompting the governor to intervene for transparency and accountability in the state payroll system.

Suleiman Idris, Governor Lawal’s media aide, outlined that the suspended deductions encompassed cooperative association dues, loan repayments, and other miscellaneous charges that employees claim were unapproved. Idris emphasized that these charges burdened workers with unnecessary financial obligations, undermining their earnings.

“In his commitment to clean up the Zamfara State payroll and to safeguard civil servants’ remuneration from unauthorized and illegal cuts, Governor Dauda Lawal has ordered an immediate halt to all non-statutory deductions from workers’ salaries,” Idris stated. He added that the directive requires the state’s Commissioner of Finance to halt any such deductions and to communicate this decision to cooperative societies and commodity vendors involved.

Permitted deductions now include statutory items such as PAYE, union dues, and specific housing and renovation loans. This initiative, as Idris conveyed, underscores the administration’s focus on enhancing the welfare and working conditions of Zamfara’s civil servants, ensuring a productive workforce within a supportive environment.