Jigawa Gov suspends special adviser over unauthorized ₦70,000 minimum wage approval

By Umar Akilu Majeri Dutse

Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has suspended his Special Adviser on Salary and Pensions, Alhaji Bashir Ado, over an alleged premature statement on the ₦70,000 minimum wage.

The statement, which was circulating in various sections of the media, claimed that the governor has approved ₦70,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state.

According to the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim, the government viewed the statement with serious concern, 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.

Ibrahim described the statement as “embarrassing and premature”.

“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,” Ibrahim said.

As a result of the development, the governor has approved the immediate suspension of Ado, pending findings of a committee set up under the chairmanship of the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Bello Abdulkadir.

The committee, which was given two weeks to submit its report, is to investigate the source, actual content of the alleged statement, and the motive behind it.

The committee members include Sagir Musa, Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture; Dr. Abdullahi Muhammmad, Commissioner for Health; and Muhammad Yahaya, Permanent Secretary Establishment and Service Matters, office of the SSG.