Niger uncovers unauthorised deductions from workers’ salaries

NIGER State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has said his administration has uncovered an unauthorized deduction of workers’ salaries ranging between N10, 000 to N20, 000 and vowed to deal ruthlessly with those involved in the fraudulent act.

The governor said this in Minna when he declared open the 13th National Niger State Trade Fair exhibition organised by the state Chamber of Commerce and industries.

He described the development as unfortunate adding that although some people are claiming that it could be system failure, the government was determined to get to the root of the mater.

Meanwhile, Governor Sani Bello has expressed satisfaction over the level of preparedness towards the take-off of the proposed Niger State University of Education, saying that the establishment of the university will address the lack of qualified teachers in the state.

The governor, who spoke when he paid an inspection visit to the university to access the level of work for the former take off of the university, said that despite the dwindling resources of the state, the government would support the take of the university.

The governor added, “I have directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to set up an investigative panel to unravel what has happened and submit report. Whoever that is involved must be severely punished”, he said.

He however, warned those in government pay roll wanting to make quick money to resign and start their businesses instead of stealing from government coffers, adding that any one caught in the fraudulent act will face the full wrath of the law.

He explained that the state has aligned itself with the stance of President Muhammed Buhari to deal ruthlessly with corruption adding that it must position itself to benefit adequately from presidential interventions especially in areas of agriculture and mining.

He reeled out incentives to encourage investments in the state including tax rebates for various categories of investors.

Bello restated the determination of the administration to quickly reposition the state economy stressing that his administration was taking proactive measures to put the state on the path of self-reliance.

According to the governor, “the need to establish the university of education became necessary in view of the shortage of qualified teachers in the state and I believed that the university will help to train qualified teachers for our primary and post primary schools in the state.

“The state government can not afford to import qualified teachers from out the state more so that there is lack of qualified teachers nationwide. We will rather encourage the take off of the university in other to serve as the training ground for our teachers so as to improve the standard of education in the state”.