1st May, 2012
Kano state Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has said that on-going efforts by his administration to purge the civil service in the state are part of strategies to strengthen the civil service for better service delivery.
He explained that effort to rid the state’s payroll of ghost workers and pensioners have started yielding results, stating that although tough measures were adopted to sanitise the service, positive results will soon materialise.
The governor who was speaking while receiving the state leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, at the government house in Kano, said even as the biometric screening of civil servants is coming to an end, it is important for workers in the state to cooperate with the government towards its success.
So far, Governor Kwankaso asserted, unnecessary leakages in the government have been blocked, stressing that those who were hitherto enjoying money under whatever guise are surely unhappy with the reforms in the civil service.
“Government is always willing to give civil servants salaries, emoluments and other things capable of ensuring a good working environment that will fast-track service delivery,” the governor maintained.
The governor focused on efforts by his administration to improve the working conditions of civil servants such as the re-introduced car loan scheme, the N18,000 minimum wage, provision of houses for boarding secondary school teachers and other welfare packages, urging them to reciprocate by sustaining their loyalty and zeal.
He said the government is happy with the manner civil servants in Kano state are working, pointing out that there is still need for improvement.
Governor Kwankwaso therefore urged the NLC and the office of the state Head of Civil Service to mobilise workers to put in their best to move the state forward.
In his speech, the state NLC Chairman, Isa Yunusa Danguguwa said the visit was aimed at interacting with the political leadership of the state on the occasion of the annual May Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, Governor Kwankwaso has signed the Kano state Agency for the Control of AIDS bill 2012, which he said will enable the government benefit from grants and other support from the international community.
By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano