The Kano State government has said it cannot pay the consolidated salary for the month of March to civil servants in the state due to the state’s current financial situation, especially as there was a drop in its allocation from the Federal Government.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by Muhammad Garba, the state Commissioner for Information, on Monday.
According to the state government, it received a total allocation of N12.4 billion from the federation account, out of which the state collected N6.1 billion, while the 44 local governments collected N6.3 billion.
It explained that that the drop in federal allocation had made it difficult for the government to implement the new salary package, adding that it would need additional fund to pay the consolidated salary.
The Information Commissioner noted that during its meeting with the labour union in May 2020, there was an understanding that government would pay workers’ salaries, based on the percentage of the total disbursement received by the state.
Garba recalled that in November and December, last year, a similar necessary but temporary measure was adopted in the payment of workers’ salary which was reversed for the months of January and February when the situation improved.
The commissioner further noted that Kano was the first among the few states in the federation to agree to the implementation of the minimum wage and called on the organised labour to understand the current situation, and sustain its cordial working relationship with the government.
