By Muhammad Hamisu Abdullahi
It is a good beginning for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State as he rolled out many initiatives to kick start his administration on a sound footing.
This is as glaring as all the sectors of human endeavours in the state have received a boost from the governor in one way or the other as his administration has attached so much importance to anything that supports fulfilling his campaign promises.
In fact, as the administration of Governor Yusuf has been keen in pursuing anything that has to do with the interest of the entire people in the state, regardless of political affiliations, so also it commits or injects capital to support his initiatives of doing best for the general public so that they will stand beneficiaries of the legacies bequeathed to them in areas of project execution.
Recently, the state workforce were wearing faces with full of smiles just as the administration in the state did everything humanly possible to make them happy.
Indeed, the idea of reintroducing packages that they were deprived of previously has brought succour to civil servants in the state.
Expectedly and happily too, the move by the administration to reintroduce annual salary step increment has been a welcome development to the entire work force in the state.
The overwhelming joy of the workers over the positive initiative is largely stemmed from the fact that the cancellation unjustifiably orchestrated by the past administration did not only demoralize the workers but also grossly affected their finances negatively.
Similarly, there were certain allowances hitherto enjoyed by the civil servants in the state which the previous administration later prohibited without rational justification even though they had historically enjoyed same prior to the emergence of the administration.
Although, some officials of immediate past government led by the former Head of Service of the administration, tried to advance reasons for such cancellations, it was obvious to many workers that his reasons were far from the truth.
Those mostly affected by the allowance cancellation under the administration of the immediate former governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, are civil servants from the rank of sit-in directors and directors, especially those working in the state media outfits.
Example is drawn from an outfit under the state Ministry of Information by name Abubakar Rimi Television, where sit-in director or director from its News and Current Affairs Department is no longer enjoying an allowance called ‘Weigh In Allowance,’ due to operation of such policy by the previous administration, despite the fact that the allowance was not only something to reckon with on the side of the affected officer but also aimed at motivating him due to the nature of his assignment.
I believe almost all parastatals under the ministry suffer the same or similar fate.
I learnt that the allowance was there since the administration of the former governor of the state, Arc. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya and it was applicable to all parastatals in the state, but under a different name, even though it served the same purpose.
Directors’ role in some parastatals, if not all, under the information ministry, is misconstrued.
A director may remain in office on daily basis till the closing hours of the programmes or schedules under his or her department.
You can see the work-load on him or her, but still he is rated as the same with those that close, some time, by four o’clock in the evening of every working day.
A director in media outfit has no definite time to close from work.
He or she has to remain in office to oversee the affairs of the department till the end.
The prayer of the workers affected by the cancellation of the allowance was and is still that Governor Yusuf’s administration would revisit the matter and see its worthiness.
If it really needs a review and going back to its operational regime, the new administration can decide, as it is committed to remedying the misdeeds of the past.
Moreover, apart from reintroducing the step increment plan in the state, pensioners are made happy and more happier as a chunk of funds to the tune of N6 billion was earmarked by the new administration, under the able leadership of Governor Yusuf, for the sector of retirees, through which a significant proportion of pensioners already received their entitlements.
Some I learnt have since owned their houses, while some have utilized their pension benefits in a most appropriate way, thus earning more living better than before when they were in a precarious condition.
As if that is not enough, to the delight of everyone, just recently, the Yusuf administration decided to give another fund to the tune of N5 billion to settle another batch of pensioners. What magnanimity!
Apart from pension, this administration has recorded tremendous achievements in the civil service, such as prompt payment of salary, stopping unnecessary deductions, reviving housing scheme, overhauling of Audu Bako Secretariat, which houses many public outfits in the state, declaring state of emergency on education sector, efforts to end water scarcity and many more, are worth to mention.
It was Nicholo Machiavelli, a Florentine diplomat, author and a philosopher (1469-1527), who argued that to determine the seriousness of a government, one must have a fair knowledge of the caliber of men and women assembled to carry out the acts of governance.
Using this as a base line to assess Governor Yusuf’s team, the rational conclusion must be that, the Kano people have a government that is capable of taking them to a promised land of socio-political and economic prosperity.
We must give kudos to Governor Yusuf’s administration in the state following the appointment of capable hands to take charge of the affairs of various ministries, departments and agencies.
It is worth singling out one out of these teams who, to many, is an engine room of the administration.
This is the state Head of Civil Service, in the person of Abdullahi Musa, whose appointment, like most others, was done based on merit.
Immediately he was appointed, Musa, like other officials, did not rest on his oars, as he jumped into action by paying visitations personally to public places all in a bid to ensure effective service delivery in the state.
Only a few cases of corruption were recorded here and there, and the governor had quickly taken drastic measures against the culprits so that the action, instantly taken by him, would serve as deterrence to others who might want to use their positions to dip their hands into the coffers of their organizations with the intent to siphon public funds.
All these achievements happened within just 365 days of Governor Yusuf’s administration, which has zero tolerance for corrupt practices. What a gallant leader!
To this effect, workers in the state must therefore appreciate the gesture and say more grease to the elbow of the governor.
With a few modifications, this article was first published in the latest edition of The Servant Magazine, a publication of the Office of the State Head of Service.
