Kano govt inaugurates committee to recover alleged N1.8bn illegal salary deduction

The Kano State Government has inaugurated a 12-member committee to recover over ₦1.8 billion illegally deducted from civil servants’ salaries by alleged loan vendors.

Inaugurating the committee in his office, the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Umar Faruq-Ibrahim, said the committee was tasked on investigating and recovering the funds with a view to and return same to the affected workers.

Faruq-Ibrahim said the monies were deducted by a private loan vendor from workers who collected soft loan.

He said based on an independent audit report, it indicated the arbitrary deductions from the workers’ salaries.

“In February 2025, the government received complaints of illegal deductions from their salaries in the name of loan.

“Upon receiving the complaints, cabinet presented a memo before the State Executive Council which was graciously approved.

“Government subsequently engaged an independent audit firm to investigate the deduction, and the reports were presented before the council.

“Findings of the audit indicated arbitrary deductions from workers’ salaries in the name of loan obtained by the workers.

“The report also indicated that the vendors of multiplicity grant of loan against the one-third per cent approved for deduction, among other findings.

“Upon the submission of the report, the council directed the constitution of the committee to recover the illegal deductions and return same to beneficiaries,” the SSG said.

He also used the avenue to clarify earlier N1.5 billion allegations leveled against the former Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa, noting that the funds amounting to N1.8 billion were deducted by the private loan vendor.

The composition of the committee has the Commissioner of Finance, Dr Ismaila Aliyu-Danmaraya, and Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Salisu Mustapha, as Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

Other members included, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude, a SAN, Head of Civil Service, Bilkisu Maimota, Accountant-General, Chairman, State Standing Committee and Local Governments Standing Committee, among others.

(NAN)