The Kano 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, Umar Faruq-Ibrahim, said the committee was tasked with investigating and recovering the funds, with a view to returning them to the affected workers.

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

He said that an independent audit report indicated arbitrary deductions from workers’ salaries.

“In February 2025, the government received complaints of illegal deductions from their salaries in the name of a loan. Upon receiving the complaints, the 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 the same to beneficiaries,” the SSG said.

He also used the avenue to clarify earlier N1.5 billion allegations levelled 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 committee comprises the finance commissioner, Ismaila Aliyu-Danmaraya, and the permanent secretary (Establishment), Salisu Mustapha, as chairman and secretary, respectively.

Other members included the attorney general and commissioner of justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru-Maude; the head of the civil service, Bilkisu Maimota; the accountant general; and the chairman of the State Standing Committee and the Local Governments Standing Committee, among others.

(NAN)