Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State has approved a financial bonus for all civil servants in the state, including local government employees, equal to their monthly PAYE obligation.
The Press Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Babatunde Toyin Abdulrasheed, announced this in a statement on behalf of the Commissioner for Finance, Hauwa Nuru, on Monday.
The Commissioner explained that this emergency support initiative would continue for a minimum of three months.
“This bonus has been approved as a buffer to bridge the gap that the correct PAYE deduction may have wrought on the newly implemented minimum wage. It is meant to serve as a soothing balm as workers adjust to the PAYE that was just correctly implemented in line with the Personal Income Tax Act.
“The payment of the bonus is effective from October and will run till December 2024. This is a significant step by His Excellency to support workers,” she said.
Nuru emphasised that workers who haven’t registered with the Kwara State Residents Registration Agency (KWSRRA) should do so immediately, as only registered employees will receive the November and December bonuses.
She added that labour unions have also agreed to refund the special levy deducted from workers’ salaries and suspend further deductions until further notice.
“Governor AbdulRazaq’s directive to deliver this relief speaks volumes about his humanity and his commitment to the welfare of Kwara workforce,” Dr Nuru stated.