By Oboh Linus
Lafia, Dec. 16, 2025 – In a significant move to modernize governance and reward diligence, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has officially launched a comprehensive new Public Service Rule. The launch, a centerpiece of the state’s inaugural Civil Service Week, signals a dual commitment to structural reform and workforce appreciation, setting a new administrative tone for the state.
The newly unveiled rulebook is designed as a foundational document to standardize procedures, ethics, and performance expectations for civil servants. It aims to replace outdated guidelines, providing a clear framework for accountability, promotion pathways, and disciplinary measures. This initiative addresses a long-standing need for codified standards in the public sector, which is crucial for reducing arbitrariness and fostering a merit-based system.
In a related announcement aimed at boosting morale, Governor Sule declared an end-of-year bonus for state civil servants. However, he provided critical context for the decision-making process, revealing a nuanced approach to fiscal federalism within the state. The governor explained that while the state government considered a uniform 13th-month salary bonus, disparities in the financial health of the state’s Local Government Areas (LGAs) made a blanket policy unfeasible.
“We had to be pragmatic,” Sule stated. “I don’t want to announce a 13-month salary only for some LGAs to say they can only afford 30 to 40 percent. That would create inequity. Therefore, we have asked the LGAs to conduct their due diligence, assess their savings, and propose a sustainable percentage they can pay. The state will then align its bonus to match this collective capacity.” This tiered approach underscores the challenges of synchronized fiscal policy across different levels of government and highlights a preference for sustainable, realistic rewards over populist announcements.
The governor framed these developments within the broader theme of the Civil Service Week: “Repositioning the Civil Service for a Digital and Productive Future.” He emphasized that the new rules and digital bonuses are part of a holistic transformation agenda. “In this age of global digital transformation, no government can afford to operate without data tools, methods, and mindset,” Sule asserted. He outlined ongoing efforts to digitize human resources, payroll management, and record-keeping, which are foundational steps toward a paperless, efficient, and transparent administration. This digital shift is not merely about technology but about cultivating a “smart, technology-driven, and data-informed organisation capable of responding swiftly to the needs of our people.”
The event also served as a platform to recognize and incentivize excellence. Governor Sule rewarded outstanding workers for punctuality and dedication, with Comfort David receiving N1 million, and Amina Idris and Chinasa Azubini receiving N500,000 each. These substantial awards are intended to set a visible benchmark for performance and commitment within the service.
In her remarks, the State Head of Civil Service, Abigail Waya, commended the governor’s support and urged workers to obtain and diligently study the new Public Service Rule. She pledged to institutionalize the Civil Service Week, promising it would become an annual forum for appraisal, dialogue, and recognition.
Governor Sule also credited the federal economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s APC administration for creating a fiscal environment that allowed the state to execute projects without resorting to borrowing. This acknowledgment ties the state’s capacity for reform and reward to broader national economic policies.
In essence, the launch of the Public Service Rule and the announcement of the conditional bonus represent two sides of the same coin: one establishes the rules of the game for a modern, digital-era bureaucracy, while the other provides immediate, though carefully calibrated, tangible appreciation for the workforce expected to drive that change. The success of this dual strategy will depend heavily on consistent implementation, the actual digitization of key processes, and the eventual harmonization of welfare benefits across all tiers of the state’s public service.
Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Isaac Ukpoju
