Katsina State Government has said it would pay civil servants N70,000 as minimum wage to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

Deputy Governor of the state, Farouk Jobe, made this known during the inauguration of a consequential adjustments committee for the implementation of a new minimum wage for civil servants.

Jobe said many people were facing hardship due to the fuel subsidy removal and that the development necessitated the setting up of a committee to come up with payment modalities.

The deputy governor said the wage increase would cut across all workers in the state and council areas, including teachers in public schools.

He said the committee would be headed by a former deputy governor and current Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Faskari.

Other members of the committee, according to him, include the State Head of Civil Service, Falalu Bawale, Commissioners for Budget and Economic Planning, Bello Kagara, and Commissioner for Finance, who doubles as supervising Commissioner, Local Government, and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bashir Tanimu.

He said other members of the committee include state Accountant-General, Auditor-General, ALGON Chairman, NULGE Chairman, Chairman of the State Internal Revenue, as well as, NLC and TUC Chairmen

Jobe said the Permanent Secretary, Department of Establishment and Training, is to serve as Secretary of the Committee.

He said the committee is expected to submit its report in three weeks.