Gov. El-Rufai begs Kaduna lawmakers to cut salaries and allowances
Kaduna
State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has begged members of the House
of Assembly to review their salaries and allowances downward in order to
generate more revenue for the development of the state.
“The
Deputy Governor and I have signalled our intention in this regard by
announcing that we are taking a pay cut of 50 per cent of our salary and
allowances until the fiscal situation of the state improves,” El-Rufa’i
said, yesterday, when he paid a visit to the House of Assembly.
“We
appeal to all political office holders to embrace this example and
attitude of sacrifice,” he said, adding that after paying salaries of
civil servants, government was left with only 20 per cent of its
revenue.
According
to him, “Once done with paying salaries, allowances, overheads and
pensions, the state is unable to do much by way of building
infrastructure or providing services. The stark fact is that Kaduna
State spends 80 per cent of its total revenues on its public servants
and political office holders.
“Can
we as elected leaders deliver any significant service or implement
progressive actions or attain desirable outcomes for the majority of our
people if we devote only 20 per cent of available resources to their
needs? Would we not be undermining the very rationale of democracy if,
after being elected by majority vote, we uphold a system that solely
serves the pleasures of a servant-minority?
“How
many good roads or decent hospitals can we build and maintain when we
leave so little monies for the things that actually matter? The
elections that have thrust the responsibility of governance on us
reflect the yearning of our people for leaders that are competent,
responsive and willing to offer dedicated service.
“As
elected officials, we must view our massive mandates as instructions by
our people for unrelenting work on their behalf. The change they voted
for is for substantive improvements in the delivery of public goods, a
new way of doing things and the prioritisation of their needs.
“As
you are aware, the executive branch of this government has been taking
briefings from the ministries, departments and agencies that constitute
the public service of Kaduna State,” he added.
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