By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi.
Civil servants in Bauchi state may have a cause to smile following the state government resolve to offset all salaries backlog owed them running into two and three months for State and Local Government workers respectively.
The State Deputy Governor, Engr. Nuhu Gidado Tuesday reiterated the commitment of the state government to clear all the salaries backlog owed civil servants in the state by next week.
Governor Mohammed Abubakar had Monday at the Bauchi State Anti-Corruption Summit at Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi, disclosed that his government has completed all arrangements to pay civil servants their remaining salaries backlog next week by God’s grace.
“You would have heard from the horse’s mouth at an occasion yesterday at Zaranda Hotel that His Excellency the Governor has committed himself and the Government of Bauchi state that Insha-Allah by next week backlog of salaries will be over”, Gidado recalled.
The Deputy Governor, who represented his boss, Governor Mohammed Abubakar at the occasion of Bauchi Productivity Day held at the Multi-purpose Indoor Sports Hall, Bauchi, said that the state government is not unaware of the difficulties being faced by the state civil servants.
He told celebrants of the Bauchi Productivity Day organized by the Office of Head of Service that the state government is overwhelmed by the good work of the committee set up to select beneficiaries of the awards.
Abubakar described the productivity day as significant as it demonstrate government’s commitment to support and encourage hard work among the workers and to reinvigorate the service which was dysfunctional as a result of neglect, corruption and poor policy during the immediate past regime.
He assured that government will continue to overhaul all its machineries until it achieve the desired goal, saying productivity can be innovativeness, creativity, profitability, self-reliance, wealth creation, empowerment, quality improvement, wise use of knowledge and resources, and prudent resources management.
“Whichever meaning we take from the above list, we have every reason to celebrate the day with fanfare and pleasantries by way of recognizing and rewarding excellence”, Governor Abubakar said.
He however warned that any act of laziness, sabotage and neglect on the part of any civil servant will not ne condone, as government has a lot of plans aimed at improving the service, as well as improve productivity through trainings, seminars and workshops.
Accordingly, he said, government will not relent efforts in fighting corruption, as corrupt officers will not be spared, and therefore enjoined workers to strictly observe the civil service rule, financial regulations and Due Process procedures in their dealings.
He reassured that government welcomes constructive criticisms, while baseless and unfounded rumours against government should be avoided in the interest of peace and tranquility among the people.
The Head of Service, Liman Bello had in a welcome address commended the state government for its positive reaction to a circular from the federal government for the states to celebrate the day at their own conveniences.
Altogether, twenty-five civil servants from various ministries, departments and agencies, and five dedicated staff from the private sector received the productivity awards.
