Kaduna pays civil servants N715m leave grants; judiciary gets N542m allowances

Kaduna State civil servants have began receiving their 2015 leave grants. This was confirmed by the Commissioner of Finance, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, who disclosed that the government is spending N715 million on the grants.

A statement by Samuel Aruwan, Special Assistant to the Governor (Media and Publicity) said that Kwari, who was addressing the press after the state executive council meeting, explained that the payment of the grants fulfills the government’s pledge to do so by early December. He further disclosed that workers in the judiciary have already been paid leave and robe allowances for 2015. Giving a breakdown of the payments to the judiciary, Kwari said that the governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, approved the payment of N542,540,582.96 to cover personnel costs for 2015, robe allowance for 2015 and four years unpaid leave transport grants for 2012 to 2015.

While welcoming the payments, Amina Dyeris-Sijuwade, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, disclosed that “the Governor’s approval was in accordance with the agreement reached on 5th May, 2015 between the state government and Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) which the governor graciously honored in view of the respect the government accords the judiciary.”
The breakdown of the approval indicated that the High Court of Justice Leave Transport Grant is N240,280,206; Sharia Court of Appeal is N156,919,037; Customary Court of Appeal is N148,341,339.96 and Robe Allowance for Magistrates for 2015 is N13,482,595.

It will be recalled that the prolonged strike by judiciary workers was suspended following an agreement between the state government and JUSUN. The agreement, dated 5th May, 2015, committed the government “to continue to pay all the Consolidated Allowances and Rent, Robe, Medical, Vehicle and Justice for all (J4A) allowances of Judicial Officers and staff as appropriate.”