Sokoto Threatens Banks Over Salary Delays

The Sokoto State Government last Wednesday threatened to sanction any commercial bank, delaying payment of salaries of civil servants in the state.

Reports say that the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Abdullahi Bala, handed down the threat in Sokoto at a meeting with representatives of the banks

The meeting was convened by the ministry, sequel to recent delays in the payment of people, working for the Sokoto State Government.

Bala said that the meeting was aimed at brainstorming on the problem, which he said, had been recurring, with a view to finding lasting solutions.

The permanent secretary said it was unfortunate that such delays and attendant suffering were being experienced by civil servants in the state.

“We will not hesitate to close our accounts with any erring bank in this direction.

“Most of the workers are getting their salaries two weeks after we have paid the money into the central salary account of the State Government domiciled with a commercial bank.

He said the procedure was for the State Government to pay the salaries into its account with one of the commercial banks operating in the state.

The permanent secretary said that the commercial bank would in turn, credit various salary accounts of the ministries, departments and agencies in the other commercial banks patronised for salary purposes.”

Bala, who noted that the problematic new 10-digit account number had been resolved, adding that. “So, all the State Government’s workers are expected to get their August salaries latest by September 2.’’