The Kano State Government has declared Friday as public holiday to mark the new Islamic year.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, on Wednesday said the holiday was to mark the first month in the lunar Islamic calendar.
The acting governor, Prof Hafiz Abubakar, congratulated the people of the state and Muslims the world over, for witnessing the new year.
Abubakar appealed to Kano citizens to utilise the public holiday to offer prayers for peace and prosperity of the country.
The acting governor had reassured the people of the state government’s determination to work hard towards improving their living standards.
He also called on Nigerians to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination to build a peaceful and harmonious country.
Friday, September 22 is the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calender and it marks the beginning of the new Islamic year 1439 after Hijra.
In another development, the state has uncovered a salary fraud amounting to N12.7 million in two parastatals in the state.
A statement by Malam Mustapha Fagge, the Public Relations Officer, office of the state Head of Service, said the fraud was uncovered in the State Hospital Management Board and Senior Secondary Schools Management Board.
According to Fagge, the discovery follows an investigation ordered by the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammad Na’iya.
“As a result of the investigation, a case of alleged connivance involving some Computer Centre staff and two others on posting from the office of the Auditor-General was discovered.
“Twenty two cases were discovered from the State Health Management Board and two from the State Senior Secondary Schools Management Board,” he said.
He added that the affected officers had been served with queries in addition to appropriate disciplinary measures taken by their respective organisations.
“A forensic analysis of the entire state payroll is being carried out in order to ensure that all such sleazy deals are unearthed and culprits brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.”
He dismissed as fake, a circular inferring that CONHESS salary scale has been restored for non-medical workers in the hospitals management board.
