Kano: Governor orders probe of civil servants’ salary deductions

By Sunday Ani

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has issued a stern warning over the widespread reports of salary underpayment and non-payment affecting a number of the state’s civil servants, declaring the act an unacceptable violation of workers’ rights and a betrayal of public trust.

This was contained in a statement by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Thursday.

Fuming over the revelations that some workers have gone for months without receiving their rightful earnings, Governor Yusuf vowed to expose and punish those responsible.

“This administration will not tolerate any act of injustice against our workers. Anyone found complicit in this reprehensible act will face the full wrath of the law,” he declared.

In a decisive move to end the irregularities, the Governor has inaugurated a high-powered investigative committee to unearth the root causes of the discrepancies, whether due to technical errors or deliberate human sabotage.

The committee has been directed to conduct a thorough audit of the state’s payroll from October 2024 to February 2025, identify affected workers, determine the financial impact, and recommend corrective and punitive actions.

The seven-member committee, chaired by the Commissioner for Rural and Community Development and the immediate past State Accountant General, Abdulkadir Abdussalam, is made up of top government officials and financial experts with deep knowledge of payroll systems.

The members include Abdulkadir Abdussalam, Chairman; the Special Adviser on Digital Economy, Dr Bashir Abdu Muzakkari (Member); the Director-General of the Kano State Bureau of Statistics, Dr Aliyu Isa Aliyu (Member); the Director-General of the Kano State Debt Management Office, Dr Hamisu Sadi Ali (Member); the Director of the Kano State Computer Centre, Hajiya Zainab Abdulkadir (Member); the Director of Research & Evaluation, REPA Directorate, SSG’s Office, Aliyu Muhammad Sani (Secretary); and the Senior Assistant Secretary (AGS), Admin & General Services Directorate, SSG’s Office, Ummulkulthum Ladan Kailani, as Co-Secretary.

The committee has been given just seven days to complete its findings and submit a comprehensive report outlining those responsible, the extent of the financial malpractice, and lasting solutions to ensure the problem never recurs.

Governor Yusuf has assured civil servants that his administration is committed to justice, transparency, and the prompt payment of salaries, warning that anyone found guilty of exploiting workers will face severe consequences.

“The era of short-changing our workers is over. This is a government of accountability, and no one will be spared if found guilty,” the Governor asserted.

As the committee swings into action, expectations are high that this bold move will expose entrenched payroll fraud, restore confidence in the state’s wage system, and safeguard the rights of Kano’s hardworking civil servants.

The committee was inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Faruk Ibrahim, on behalf of the Governor.