From Noah Ebije, Kaduna.
Against the backdrop of restructuring of its local government system, Kaduna State Government has laid off 4, 042 workers in its 23 councils.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Jafaru Sani confirmed the disengagement to newsmen, yesterday.
Sani reiterated the exercise is part of the ongoing restructuring of the local government system for effective service delivery.
He also said the restructuring was designed to strengthen the local government system, to carry out developmental projects and programmes.
He disclosed that 3,159 staff among those disengaged had put in 10 years and were retired while the remaining 893 had their jobs terminated.
He explained that retired staff would be paid their November salary, including three months’ salaries, in lieu of notice, while their pension would be worked out by their pension administrators.
Sani added that those whose appointments were terminated would equally be paid their November salary, one month salary, in lieu of notice and gratuity, according to the civil service rule.
“It is a known fact that the LGAs were overburdened by redundant and unproductive staff who are contributing nothing to the development of the councils.
“Because of the over-bloated staff, the LGAs are doing nothing other than paying salaries and end up becoming more or less poverty-alleviation centres, where people just go to collect money and go home.
“To ensure development at the local levels, therefore, we have to do what is right by downsizing redundant staff, to free some funds that would be injected in developmental projects.
“With the disengagement, supporting members of staff at the 23 LGAs are now 6,732, excluding primary school teachers and primary health care workers.
“I am sure, with this development, local government areas will soon start executing capital and development projects, to provide social services to the people.”
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Commission, Mr Mahmud Zailani, explained that the ongoing local government restructuring was part of Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s campaign promise to strengthen public service.
“The governor began his public service restructuring at the state level when he reduced the number of the state ministries from over 20 to 13.
“A number of permanent secretaries and other staff had to go during the process, as part of efforts to provide quality public service.
“I say here that the disengagement was not forced on the LGAs but was carried out with their full support and each LGA was treated according to its peculiarities,’’ Zailani said.