Gov Lawal Issues Fresh Directive On Deductions From Zamfara Workers’ Salaries

The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has ordered the immediate suspension of all non-statutory deductions from the salary of civil servants in the state.

Specifically, Governor Lawal directed that the state Commissioner of Finance must ensure that deductions by cooperative societies and other commodity vendors are suspended.

He added that the directive follows complaints by workers in the state about some unnecessary deductions from their salaries through the state’s payroll.

The Governor, in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said only statutory deductions such as PAYE; Union dues; NHF; ZAMCHEMA; Water rate; FMB (Rent to Own); FMB (Home Renovation), and Housing Corp Loan should be deducted from the salary of workers through the state payroll system.

The statement reads: “In his resolve to sanitize the Zamfara State Payroll system for more efficient management of state civil servants’ remuneration currently inundated with a lot of unauthorized and illegal deductions, Governor Dauda Lawal has ordered an immediate halt to all Non Statutory deductions from workers’ salaries,” the statement read.

“The decision was made due to numerous complaints about deductions from workers’ salaries, some of which were used to facilitate an illegal surcharge of the workers in the name of cooperatives & commodity loan repayments.

“Governor Lawal has instructed the Commissioner of Finance to stop all of such deductions from workers’ salaries and to communicate the same information to all cooperative societies & other Commodity Vendors.

“For more clarity, the only allowed statutory deductions comprise the following: PAYE; Union dues; NHF; ZAMCHEMA; Water rate; FMB (Rent to Own); FMB (Home Renovation); Housing Corp Loan.

“The present administration in Zamfara state is committed to implementing measures that support the welfare and development of the civil servants. This includes enhancing working conditions, providing necessary resources, and creating a conducive environment to ensure a highly competent, motivated, and productive workforce.”