Kano probes alleged N1.5b worker deductions linked to former Head of Service

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State on Friday ordered a probe into an alleged N1.5 billion deducted from workers monies by the former Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa.

The governor gave the directive during the workers day celebration while responding to allegations raised by the Chairman, Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kabiru Inuwa.

He said the Secretary to the Kano State Government, Umar Faruq-Ibrahim, has been told to set up a committee to probe the allegation.

He vowed the government will take drastic measures against anyone found culpable and ensure the money is refunded.

Yusuf said: “I heard the chairman in his speech commenting on an allegation that the former Head of Service has expended some amount of money running into N1.5 billion.

“Immediately I heard this, I summoned the SSG and directed that an investigative committee should immediately be constituted to look into those allegations.

“I want to assure you that if anybody is found to be involved, the government is going to take very drastic action to ensure that monies are refunded back.”

The governor said the government has settled N32 billion out of the N48 billion outstanding backlog of gratuity and death benefits it inherited.

He promised to offset the remaining balance of N16 billion before the end of his administration.

Yusuf added: “I inherited a backlog of gratuities and benefits amounting to over N48 billion as was said by the Nigerian Labour Congress chairman during his speech.

“Let me say that this placed immense hardship on retirees and the families of the decent workers.

“And as the chairman enumerated, through deliberate and sustained efforts, we have so far settled a sum of N32 billion out of the total of N48 billion.

“We are also committed by the grace of Allah to clearing the balance within the lifespan of this administration.”

Yusuf said his administration has also established key institutions aimed at treating the welfare and professional development of civil servants.

He said: “The creation of the Local Government Service Commission has ensured that the careers of local government employees are now aligned with the standards and progressions obtainable in other chains of the public service.

“We have also enhanced the welfare of retirees by increasing the minimum pension from N5,000 to N20,000, a development that has significantly improved the living conditions of our senior citizens over the past several months.”

Earlier, the NLC Chairman, Kabiru Inuwa, had appealed to the state government to investigate an allegation making the round over an allegation of N1.5 billion against the former Head of Service.

Inuwa also appealed to the government to address disparity in the local and state government workers salaries in order to boost morale of workers and justify the principle of equality.