Kano Govt ‘Unilaterally’ Slashes Workers Salaries
2021 began on a sad note for civil servants in Kano State, as they claimed that their December salaries were heavily slashed by the state government without explanation.
They also told Nigeria Sketch that the unilateral deductions started from November 2020.
Authorities in the state said the deductions were necessary given the economic realities of recession in the country caused by COVID-19.
Most of the workers said the “slash” was unfair, saying the government was cutting their salaries at a time it was dishing out substantial funds for political purposes.
They pointed at the recent release of over 2 billion naira for the conduct of local government elections which willl take place on January 16.
They also queried the government over what they called ‘isolated economic recession’, saying only Kano State has so far cut its workers’ salaries.
Special adviser to Kano State governor on media, Salihu Tanko Yakasai said on Wednesday that “the state government has reverted to the initial minimum pay due to recession.
“What we are getting now as a government has reduced, and we can’t afford to pay the N30, 000 minimum wage,” he explained.
Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kabiru Ado, hinted that the decision to slash workers salaries was unilaterally taken by the state government.
He said “We have not received any official communication from the government to revert to old wage as circulated by some media outlets. So, we will stand by the signed agreement of N30,600 entered since December 2019.”
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