Malam Nasir Ahmed Elrufai, or should I say “Our very own Tony Stark(the iron man)” in the words of the great poet Alhan Islam.
Kaduna State has been in the news these past few days majorly because of the impasse between the NLC and the Kaduna State Government, for those who don’t know the actual cause lemme start by giving you a brief summary of what transpired/what led to the issue.
Malam Nasir Elrufai in his usual fashion as a bold and decisive leader took the bull by the horn by announcing his government’s decision to “Right size” the public service, this is due to cash crunch bedeviling the state and the huge burden of payment of workers salaries. It is common knowledge that not only in Kaduna State but the entire country is overburdened by huge wage bills of very few individuals who are privileged to work with the government and those who have worked that are now entitled to pensions monthly, with particular reference to Kaduna State, the government through the office of the Head of Service released the financial cost of maintaining 31,000 workers and pensioners as well as 259 political appointees and surprisingly in a state of about 10 million people, 80-85 % of the FAAC allocation to the state goes to payment of salaries and pensions, one at this point pauses to wonder, what about the remaining 9.something people who are by right also entitled to the common wealth of the state? How does Malam embark on these massive projects when chunk of his allocation from the federation purse goes to payment of salaries? How will the remaining citizens get good hospitals, roads, water, attain food security? All these questions have overwhelmed my thoughts since the start of this issue, now I believe you’ve an insight into the problem, let me go on to say what I want to say without any apology without taking much of your time.
Kaduna being at the heart of Northern Nigeria had a reputation of sound Education during the Sardauna Era and even prior to that, I believe that was what earned the state the Slogan “Centre for learning”, over time that has faded as the state was battling with dilapidated schools, lack of funding, teachers arrears, lack of good teachers and so on, Malam being an educationist himself made it a priority to bring back the lost glory of Kaduna in the field of education as such he came up with a bold policy of Aptitude test for school teachers, to our greatest dismay those teachers failed Primary 3 examination, it was laughable but sad, the entire North was exposed by that single action because if we can find this in Kaduna what happens to the other Northern States?, 21,000 plus failed woefully, and Malam dismissed them from service and almost immediate advertised new recruitments that saw to the employment of 25,000 new teachers that have the capacity to teach, as a gesture of leading by example he immediately enrolled his own son into the public school system to further boost confidence in the educational system that the common man enjoys, that earned Malam my trophy of leader if the year!, ask yourselves this pertinent question, who benefits more from the public school system, the Children of the elites/ruling class or the children of the downtrodden people in the society who live from hand to mouth? I leave you to answer that question.
Let me move quickly to the issue of the day, but before then let me lay some quick facts;
1. Malam is one of the few Governors in Nigeria to implement the payment of N30,000 minimum wage across board.
2. He was the first Governor to implement the new pension scheme that reflects the new minimum wage.
3. He is one of the few Governors that have never failed in payment of workers emoluments as at when due.
4. Malam in 5 years has paid more than 13 billion Maura in death benefits and gratuities.
5. Malam is the only Governor in the Northern part of this country that has granted full financial autonomy to Local Governments, I could say in the whole of the country, I stand to be corrected.
I could go on and on, but where was the NLC when all these developmental strides were happening? What has the labor union done to other states that are consistently failing in payment of workers salaries despite receiving Paris Club refunds as well as 2 trenches of bailout funds granted to them by President Buhari? Why is Kaduna’s case different? These questions are begging for answers from the labor union that claims to be fighting for Nigerian workers rights.
I appreciate Malam Elrufai’s grandstanding Wallahi simply because I am also of the opinion that the strike action of the past few days is nothing but economic sabotage as the government puts it, who deprives common people if electricity, portable drinking water and healthcare services and claim to be fighting for workers rights? Are the rights of 31,000 citizens above the lives of over 9 million citizens? The NLC in my opinion is out to sabotage the humble efforts of Elrufai’s administration in ensuring Kaduna state takes its rightful place in the north and regaining g it’s lost glory of being the capital of Northern Nigeria.
NLC you’ve goofed this time, you took on the wrong opponent.
Malam Nasir Elrufai, I don’t know you personally but I pray that you prevail over the miscreants trying to undermine your giant strides in lifting Kaduna state and taking it to greater heights, it shall be well with you and your entire generation, keep going as posterity will judge you fairly, long after you’re gone you’ll be remembered as the Hero of the common man, God bless you.
Laylah Ali Othman.
