The governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi, has suspended his special adviser on salary and pensions, Bashir Ado, for issuing what the government described as a “premature statement” regarding the implementation of the new N70,000 minimum wage.
The suspension was announced on Saturday in a statement by Bala Ibrahim, the secretary to the state government.
The controversy began when reports circulated in the media suggesting that Governor Namadi had approved the new N70,000 minimum wage for state workers.
The statement from Ibrahim clarified that the claim was premature and did not reflect the government’s official position.
“The government viewed with serious concern a statement circulating in various sections of the media alleging that the governor has approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage for workers in the state.
This sounds embarrassing and premature as the committee headed by the Head of the State Civil Service, set up by the government to advice on the appropriate wage, is yet to complete its assignment and submit a report,” he said.
Ibrahim explained that, as a result of the incident, the governor had approved the immediate suspension of Ado, pending the outcome of an investigation.
“The committee, chaired by Bello Abdulkadir, the Attorney-General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, has been given two weeks to investigate the source and actual content of the alleged statement, as well as the motive behind it,” he added.
The investigative committee also include Sagir Musa, commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, and Culture; Abdullahi Muhammad, Commissioner for Health; and Muhammad Yahaya, Permanent Secretary of Establishment and Service Matters, office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). The committee is expected to submit its findings within two weeks.
The controversy comes shortly after a new minimum wage bill was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 29, 2024, raising the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.
In September 2024, the Federal Government also approved the upward review of the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), further raising expectations among workers across the country.
Governor Namadi’s decision to suspend Ado appears to signal his administration’s caution in addressing wage increases while awaiting the committee’s recommendations. The government emphasized that any decision on the new minimum wage would only be made after careful consideration of the committee’s report.
The situation has raised mixed reactions from workers in Jigawa. Some labor representatives expressed disappointment over the suspension, calling it a setback for workers’ expectations. However, others defended the governor’s stance, urging the government to adopt a measured approach.
“It is unfortunate that the premature announcement has created confusion, but we must allow the committee to do its job,” said a state worker who requested anonymity. “The new wage law is a positive step for all Nigerian workers, but implementation should be done properly to ensure sustainability.”
The committee’s findings are expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the statement and help determine the way forward regarding the new minimum wage in Jigawa State.
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