Rightsizing: Kaduna dismisses 99 appointees as Adamawa reshuffles cabinet

*Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State of Nigeria discloses that 99 political appointees have lost their jobs, as the state ‘cannot continue to use 84 percent to 96 percent of our revenues to pay salaries of less than one percent of the population’

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Although the state has said it has not commenced rightsizing the civil service, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State says the government has disengaged 99 political appointees in the course of implementing its rightsizing policy.

ConsumerConnect reports Governor El-Rufai, who briefed reporters Thursday, June 17, 2021, said that the Kaduna State Government had yet to disengage any civil servant, as only agencies connected to the local government system have disengaged staff thus far.

The governor listed those affected to include the 23 Local Government Councils, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Primary Health Care Board.

According to him, the disengaged political appointees constituted 30 percent of the total number of political office holders in the state.

El-Rufai stated: “So far, 99 political appointees have lost their jobs, but we have not commenced rightsizing civil servants,” said Governor El-Rufai.

“We want to be fair with regards to civil servants. We had earlier promised that before we reduce the size of the civil service, we will start with political appointees, and we have done that.”

The rightsizing of civil servants would still go on as planned because of dwindling revenues that were accruing to the state government from the federation account, said he.

The governor noted that Kaduna Government started rightsizing with political appointees because their details were clearly known, making it more straightforward to disengage them.

El-Rufai also clarified that civil servants whose veracity of data had raised questions have been given a chance to clear the doubts before any action would be taken.

He, however, disputed the insinuations making the rounds that the salaries of political appointees in the state accounted for the bloated personnel cost of the Kaduna State Government.

“In March 2021, the salaries of these political appointees amounted to N259 million, while civil servants were paid N3.13 billion aside from costs related to state contributions to pension, accrued rights, and other personnel costs.

“So, it is false to insinuate that political appointees are the ones that guzzle most of the state’s resources,” he stated.

El-Rufai added: “Kaduna State cannot continue to use 84 percent to 96 percent of our revenues to pay salaries of less than one percent of the population.

“The rest of our people – all 99 percent of them, need better schools, hospitals, water supply, roads, markets, and support for agriculture to make a living outside the government.”

He pledged that the state government would not reverse the N30,000 Minimum Wage that it has started paying.

6 Commissioners to swap positions in Adamawa State cabinet reshuffle

In a related development, Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle of the State Executive Council.

Humwashi Wonosikou, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in a statement Friday, June 18 said that six commissioners affected by the development would swap positions.

The statement noted Mr. Sanusi Jauro, who until recently was the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development was redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties.

His counterpart at the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Mohammed Umar, was also directed to move to the Ministry of Land and Survey.

Umar has been replaced by Ibrahim Mijinyawa who now serves as the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs in the state.

Wonosikou stated that Alloysious Babadoke moves from Special Duties to Youth and Sports Development, and Umar Daware and Dr Dishi Khobe are to swap positions.

Daware takes over at the Ministry of Agriculture while Khobe takes over at the Ministry of Tertiary and Professional Education.

The state government said the redeployment was intended to create a new vigour and vitality for service delivery which has been the hallmark of the Umaru Fintiri administration.

The postings were with immediate effect and Governor Fintiri has directed the commissioners to hand over and move to their new postings without delay, the statement added.

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