Confusion as Jigawa governor denies approving payment of minimum wage
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
State and local government workers in Jigawa state have been thrown into confusion as the state Governor, Malam Umar Namadi denies approving the commencement of payment of the N70,000 new national minimum wage.
The workers had become optimistic of getting the new minimum wage at the end of October following a public announcement by the governor’s Senior Special Adviser on Salary and Pension, Mr Ado Kazaure, that the governor had given approval to that effect.
Kazaure’s announcement on October 10 had set the state buzzing as workers in various fora, including the social media, hailed the governor for the gesture.
The workers, however, became disappointed when Kazaure retracted the earlier announcement in a voice clip that went viral.
Kazaure confirmed the authenticity of the audio clip in which he denied the that the governor had given approval to commence the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage.
When contacted by The Syndicate, the governor’s aide said, “Yes it is true, I’m the one talking”. He however declined further comment on why the government denied the earlier approval fir the payment of the minimum wage.
Some civil servants who spoke to The Syndicate on condition of anonymity described the development as disappointing
“This is a serious deceit, an act of wickedness”, one of them said, adding that it showed the governor’s lack of concern to the plight of civil servants.
