The Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Bello, has given the state’s account officers 24 hours to remit to the state the amount deducted from workers’ salaries, running into hundreds of millions.
Bello gave the ultimatum on Wednesday during the 2019 Workers’ Day celebration held at 123 Quarters Parade Ground, Minna.
He said the state civil servants had raised alarm over an arbitrary deduction from their salary in March and April this year.
The governor described the act as “very unfortunate,” promising to intervene.
He therefore directed the ministry of finance to immediately correct the anomalies, saying, “and let all the affected civil servants get their money within a space of time.”
Bello also disclosed that he was aware of sharp practices by some staff of the ministry of finance who are in the habits of paying themselves salaries of four to five civil servants, warning that nobody can save them from being dealt with if they are detected.
Bello also reassured workers of his decision to pay the N30,000 minimum wage.
He counselled civil servants to be polite when asking for their entitlements so that it can be considered.