By Lawal A, Dogara, Kaduna
Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state has promised that his administration will assist all civil servants who were disengaged as a result of the recent public service reforms in the agricultural sector.
The governor who made this known in a state broadcast, said that government will make agricultural l and, extension services, access to low-interest loans and guaranteed off-takers available to those who are interested in agriculture.
El-Rufai also disclosed that he has directed that henceforth, a pre-retirement training should be institutionalised in the state as part of the obligation to prepare public servants for life outside government.
The governor who justified why the reforms were necessary, revealed that the public service was consuming four out of every five naira of the revenues accruing to Kaduna state government from the federation account.
Governor El Rufai who decried this disparity in the distribution of the state’s commonwealth, argued that it is neither prudent nor fair to spend 80% of revenues on one percent of the population, and only 20% on the remaining 99% that are not employed by government.
The Kaduna state governor said that he has pursued cost-cutting from day one when his administration came on board on May 29, 2015, in order to free resources for development, adding that he reduced ministries from 19 to 14 and appointed only 15 commissioners rather than the 24 his predecessor appointed.
El Rufai also said that his government has recruited fewer political appointees in general as part of the belt tightening measures. In addition, state civil servants were verified and ensured that all Ministries Departments and Agencies comply with their prescribed establishments, he further said.
“All the steps being taken are connected to our determination to make government shed weight, to reduce costs and make more resources available to provide schools, hospitals, roads and other vital needs of ordinary people,’’ he said.
According to the governor, the public service reforms that he has undertaken is ‘’in accordance with All Progressives Congress(APC) manifesto, which promised to strengthen the public service as an agent of governance.
