By Usman Usman Garba
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has marked the 2025 International Workers’ Day with a strong reaffirmation of his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers, unveiling a new ₦71,000 minimum wage, sweeping pension reforms, and the creation of new ministries and agencies to drive job creation and innovation.
In a statement on Thursday issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf described the workforce as the engine of democratic governance and national progress.
Speaking during the May Day celebration in Kano, he pledged continued investment in the welfare of workers and retirees, emphasizing that labour remains central to the administration’s development agenda.
“Our workers are not just public servants—they are the lifeblood of governance and development,” the governor said. “We are here today because of their resilience, sacrifice, and commitment.”
The governor announced the official adoption of a ₦71,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state, making Kano one of the first in Nigeria to implement such a significant increase. He said the move was aimed at cushioning the effects of economic hardship, raising morale, and boosting productivity across the public service.
“We are determined to make Kano a model of labour-conscious governance,” he stated. “This new wage is a reflection of our shared values—justice, fairness, and the dignity of labour.”
He also unveiled a comprehensive package of pension reforms, including the payment of ₦16 billion in pension arrears, an upward review of the minimum pension from ₦5,000 to ₦20,000, and the release of ₦100 million to support pensioners’ welfare and programs.
“Pension reform is not merely a policy—it is a moral obligation,” Governor Yusuf said. “Those who gave their best years in service must not be forgotten.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to overhauling the civil service by institutionalizing regular training and capacity building in collaboration with institutions like the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON). He also noted that his government is reviewing key regulatory documents such as the Civil Service Rules, Financial Instructions, and the Scheme of Service to improve efficiency and modernize administrative procedures.
As part of broader efforts to stimulate employment and improve service delivery, the governor announced the establishment of several new ministries and agencies. These include the Ministries of Housing Development, Internal Security, Solid Minerals, and Power & Renewable Energy. In addition, the Kano State ICT Development Agency and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency were created to harness technology and support local businesses.
“These institutions are not just bureaucratic setups,” Yusuf explained. “They are designed as strategic tools to tackle unemployment and promote innovation in today’s rapidly changing world.”
On infrastructure and urban renewal, the governor cited ongoing construction of flyovers at Dan Agundi and Tal’udu junctions, road expansions, drainage improvements, and the installation of streetlights across the city. He reiterated his administration’s declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector and the formation of a special task force to address the menace of phone snatching and youth thuggery in the state.
Governor Yusuf concluded his address with a call for unity, civic responsibility, and patriotism, urging workers and citizens to remain resilient and committed despite prevailing economic challenges.
“In every challenge lies an opportunity,” he noted. “Let us turn our difficulties into drive and our hardships into hope.”
Labour leaders at the event praised the governor’s reforms and expressed their readiness to continue working with the administration to ensure the realization of a more equitable and prosperous Kano.