The Jigawa government has announced the suspension of the state’s COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (JCARES) project coordinator over alleged misappropriation and contract abuse.

Sagir Musa, the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, made this known at a news conference in Dutse on Friday.

Mr Musa said the government had also suspended the desk officers of the programme in 27 local government areas of the state.

He explained that the affected officials were suspended after the State Executive Council deliberated on the Committee of Inquiry report on the NG-J-CARES Result Area 2, Fadama.

He said, “The council, during its meeting on Thursday, approved the immediate suspension of the state coordinator and all the 27 local government desk officers of the NG-JCARES Result Area 2: Fadama in the state.

“Similarly, the council directed the Committee of Inquiry report to a White Paper committee under the chairmanship of the state’s head of service to review the recommendations for implementation modalities to refund all misused money.

“Also to be reviewed is the abuse of contracts under the Fadama project.”

He added that the council had also approved the suspension of the provosts, registrars and bursars of the College of Health Science, Jahun and College of Nursing and Midwifery, Birnin Kudu.