Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has ordered an investigation into allegations that N1.5 billion was illegally deducted from workers' salaries, promising to return the money and punish those responsible.
Yusuf made the directive on May Day, when he addressed workers gathered to mark International Workers' Day. He said the deductions were unauthorised and that his administration would not tolerate such practices.
The governor did not provide details about when the deductions occurred, which government agency handled them, or how many workers were affected. He also did not name any officials under investigation or explain why the money was taken in the first place.
Kano State has faced persistent complaints about salary delays and irregular payments to civil servants over several years. The state government has blamed the problem on dwindling federal allocations and the cost of running the administration, but workers have said their take-home pay has shrunk because of various deductions they do not understand.
Yusuf promised that once the investigation is complete, his government would recover the N1.5 billion and return it to the affected workers. He also said anyone found guilty of authorising or executing the deductions would face disciplinary action.
The governor used his May Day speech to appeal for patience from workers, saying his administration was committed to improving their welfare. He noted that the state government had inherited a difficult financial situation when he took office in May 2023.
Yusuf did not say when the investigation would be completed or which agency would conduct it. The state government is expected to announce further details about the probe in the coming days.
