Jigawa Gov Suspends Aide For False Statement On Minimum Wage

By Ayodele Oni

For raising false alarm on the new minimum wage, Jigawa state Governor Umar Namadi, has suspended his Special Adviser on Salary and Pensions, Alhaji Bashir Ado.

Ado was reported to have released an unapproved statement regarding a N70,000 minimum wage.

The statement claimed that the Governor had approved a new minimum wage for state workers. This sparked concern within the Government.

According to Bala Ibrahim, Secretary to the State Government, the decision to suspend Ado was due to the misleading nature of the information.

“The government is taking this matter seriously, and an investigation committee has been constituted to look into the premature statement.

“This sounds embarrassing and premature as the committee headed by the Head of the State Civil Service, set up by the government to advise on the appropriate wage, is yet to complete its assignment and submit a report.”

A committee, chaired by Attorney-General Bello Abdulkadir Fanini, has been tasked with investigating the origin, content, and motive behind the statement.

The committee has two weeks to submit its findings, and Ado’s suspension will remain in place pending the outcome.

Ibrahim further revealed that the Commissioners for Information, Youth, Sports, and Culture, Sagir Musa; Health, Dr. Abdullahi Muhammad; and Permanent Secretary of Establishment and Service Matters, Office of the SSG, Muhammad Yahaya Jabo, have been appointed as members of the committee.

The Permanent Secretary of REPA, Abba Mustapha Yola, will serve as the committee’s secretary.