ANKARA

Nigeria’s largest state Niger is implementing a 30% wage cut for all political appointees in its administrative structure, the state government announced on Tuesday.

The temporary reduction will take effect immediately and has been imposed due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement by Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, secretary to Niger's state government.

Those affected include the governor of Niger and his deputy, state commissioners, special advisers, and all other political appointees.

The statement said the wage cut will be withdrawn as soon as the virus situation improves.

The state has recorded 116 cases since March, with seven fatalities and 37 recoveries.

Nigeria’s COVID-19 case count reached 25,694 on Tuesday, including 590 deaths and 9,746 recoveries, according to official data.

The country is third in terms of number of cases in Africa, behind only Egypt and South Africa.