In a decisive move to address allegations of unauthorized salary deductions and non-payment of civil servants' wages, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has suspended the Acting Head of Service, Salisu Mustapha, with immediate effect. Mustapha has also been directed to step aside as Permanent Secretary, Establishment, to allow for an unhindered investigation. The suspension was revealed in a statement by the spokesman for the governor, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa, on Thursday.
Malam Umar Muhammad Jalo has been appointed as the new Acting Head of Service to ensure administrative continuity during the investigation. The suspension comes after widespread complaints from civil servants regarding unauthorized salary deductions.
A seven-member investigative committee has been inaugurated to probe the salary discrepancies. The committee, chaired by Abdulkadir Abdussalam, the immediate past State Accountant General and current Commissioner for Rural & Community Development, has been tasked with conducting a thorough audit of the state's payroll from October 2024 to February 2025. Their objectives include identifying affected workers, determining the financial impact of the irregularities, and recommending corrective and punitive actions.
The committee has been given a one-week deadline to submit its findings. Speaking after the inauguration, Chairman Abdussalam assured that the committee will work diligently within the given timeframe to ensure justice and transparency.
Governor Yusuf has reaffirmed his administration's zero-tolerance stance on financial malpractice, warning that anyone found guilty of involvement in the salary irregularities will face severe consequences. The State Secretary to Government, Umar Ibrahim, emphasized that the era of shortchanging workers is over and that the administration is committed to justice and the prompt payment of salaries.
As the investigation unfolds, civil servants in Kano State await the outcome with anticipation, hoping that it will lead to a more transparent and equitable payroll system.