Nasiru Yusuf 

Kano state Executive Council has given approval for the implementation of new minimum wage for academic and non-academic staff of the two state own universities, with a monthly release of N49, 695, 509.26 million.

KANO FOCUS recalled that the state government has earlier reversed minimum wage of civil servants from N18,000 to N30,600 in March.

The state government, however, said that accumulated arrears from the time of the approval of the new salary structure to date would be determined pending improvement of the current financial situation in the state.

The state commissioner for information, Muhammad Garba, announced this on Thursday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the council meeting, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano.

He said the two institutions, Yusuf Maitama Sule University and Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil would receive monthly allocation of N24, 560, 479.72 million and N25, 135, 029.54 million respectively for the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary Structure II (CONUASS II) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure II (CONTISS II).

Mr Garba said the council has also approved the award of contract for the supply and installation of two 1,500 KVA generating sets at Watari 75mld Water Treatment Plant to address acute water supply shortage to the towns and villages served by the treatment plant.

He said the contract, which is worth N355, 027, 831.20 million was awarded to Messrs Mantrac Nigeria Limited for the treatment plant designed to serve Watari-Kano Pipeline, Watari-Bagwai Pipeline and Watari-Tsanyawa pipeline each with separate pumping outlet.

The commissioner also disclosed that approval has been given by the council for the release of 11 resident doctors to pursue Residency Training Programme in different fields of specialization at various teaching hospitals in the state.

Mr Garba stated that the medical doctors were on permanent and pensionable appointment under the state Hospitals Management Board and were able to secure admissions with either Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital or Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital for the residency programme.

He said the training programme was to enable the medical officers graduate as consultants in their various fields of specialization under the state government sponsorship of the bonding policy that also stipulates the payment of monthly salary and annual project/book allowance of N372, 000.00 for the duration of the programme.

The council, the commissioner said, has also approved the creation of an additional department at the state Contributory Healthcare Management Board to handle the processing of claims for fee from facilities without using health maintenance organization.

He said the measure saves the agency substantial amount of resources and to equally comply with Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and the National Health Act which prohibits the engagement of third-party administrator to handle the claim processing.