By Lawal A. Dogara, Kaduna
Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna state has explained that the recently disengaged 4,042 local government workers, were laid off as part of efforts to make the 23 local governments in the state self-sustaining and enable them provide basic services for their people at the grassroots level.
Kaduna state government on Monday served 3,189 local government workers, who have spent over 10 years in service with letters of retirement, while 883 others, who are yet to reach pensionable years, were handed letters of termination of their appointments by the state government.
Speaking in Kaduna, el-Rufai said of the 23 local governments in the state, only Birnin Gwari local government is financially healthy, adding that six local government areas are on life support. He said the remaining 14 local government councils can barely pay their workers salary from the federal allocation and 10% IGR given to them by the state government.
Governor El-Rufai, who spoke through Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said it became imperative to reduce the overbloated work force to enable the 23 councils carry out necessary capital projects and provide basic services for their people. “There are many workers in our local government who don’t have any work, they only report to the local government councils to receive their salary. Government want a situation where only required staff work at the council not people who are redundant.
“Most of the 23 local governments after receiving monthly allocation are barely able to pay salary, the state government have to augment the shortfall. Six local governments are existing on life support as they cannot even pay salary, others can pay salary but cannot execute developmental projects after deducting salary. The local governments need one intervention or the other.
“This is part of our campaign promises to restructure the work force and ensure that staff are not redundant. There are two to three million youths within Kaduna metropolis comprising Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Igabi and Chikun local government councils who need to be provided with employment opportunities. The over bloated work force in local governments made it difficult to achieve positive change in the state.”
Also speaking, Kaduna state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy, Alhaji Ja’afaru Sani said the affected workers have been served their letters, adding that they have met with the director of the 23 local governments on the payment of three months salary and pension to those retired in lieu of notice and one month salary as well as gratuity to those whose appointments were terminated. He said they will all receive November salary.