RismadarVoice Reporters
January 15, 2026
Yobe State Government has fully cleared outstanding gratuities owed to state and local government retirees, spending more than ₦15.4 billion to settle years of accumulated liabilities.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baba Wali, disclosed this on Wednesday in Damaturu during a press briefing marking six years of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration.
“The payments have eliminated all gratuity backlogs owed by both the state and local governments, bringing relief to retired public servants across Yobe,” Wali said. He added that the settlement reflects the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare and fiscal responsibility, despite economic challenges faced by subnational governments.
Beyond gratuities, Wali outlined several achievements in security, employment, infrastructure, education, healthcare, transportation, and power.
On security, the SSG said the state procured 250 operational vehicles and 500 motorcycles for security agencies between 2019 and 2025. More than 300 patrol and specialised vehicles were rehabilitated, and over 2,000 vigilantes, hunters, and hybrid force operatives were engaged to support operations across the state.
In employment and capacity building, Wali noted that 6,449 workers were recruited into the civil service, while about 35 training programmes benefitted over 6,395 civil servants. He added that more than 26,000 teachers were trained or retrained, and over 4,000 teaching and non-teaching staff were recruited into primary and secondary schools.
On infrastructure, the SSG said about 500 kilometres of roads had either been completed or are ongoing, including the Geidam–Bukarti, Damagum–Gubana, Nguru–Bulanguwa, and Fika–Maluri roads. He also revealed that the ₦22 billion flyover and underpass project in Damaturu, handled by Triacta Nigeria Limited, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
In education, the government constructed six model schools, seven mega schools, nine girls’ secondary schools, and eight co-educational secondary schools, and continues to pay registration fees for WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB examinations for eligible students.
On power and electrification, Wali said 25 villages were electrified, electricity was extended to over 200 locations, and several roads were rehabilitated with 33KVA lines. He added that general hospitals now receive 24-hour power supply, supplemented with generator sets in some government establishments.
Regarding healthcare, Wali stated that Primary Healthcare Centres were constructed or rehabilitated in 140 of the state’s 178 wards, alongside procurement of 88 tricycle ambulances. Over 300,000 residents have enrolled in the Yobe State Health Insurance Scheme, while drugs worth ₦2.3 billion were supplied to the Yobe Drugs and Medical Consumable Management Agency.
In transportation, the state acquired 20 buses for the Yobe Transport Corporation and sold over 100 vehicles to residents at subsidised rates.
