Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State has approved the payment of March salaries to civil servants in the state on the 13th of the month in preparation for the upcoming Sallah celebration.
The move is aimed at helping workers across the state make early arrangements for the festive season and meet their financial commitments ahead of time.
Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah, said the decision underscores Governor Ododo’s dedication to the welfare of workers, especially amid the current economic challenges confronting many Nigerians.
He noted that although the payment of salaries is a statutory obligation of government, the governor considers it important to ensure workers receive their wages earlier than usual during festive periods in order to ease the financial burden on families.
Hon. Isah explained that the early salary payment is also designed to help workers manage the increasing cost of transportation and goods following the recent rise in fuel prices, while allowing those who intend to travel for the Sallah celebration to do so more conveniently.
According to him, the governor is also conscious of the need to support workers during periods such as the ongoing Ramadan fast and the Christian Lenten season, when many households are making additional sacrifices.
He added that gestures of this nature have been uncommon in the state’s history, noting that only a former military administrator of Kogi State, late Col. Bzigu Lassa Afakirya, had previously taken a similar action by approving early salary payments for workers during his tenure.
The Special Adviser reiterated that Governor Ododo will continue to place priority on the welfare of civil servants as part of his administration’s commitment to responsible and inclusive governance in Kogi State.
Governor Ododo had earlier approved similar early salary payments during major religious celebrations since assuming office. In 2024, workers in the state received their salaries on the 14th ahead of the festive season, following a similar trend for the sallah break and Eid-el-Kabir celebration, while another early payment was also approved ahead of the Easter celebration in the same year.
