…Commend him for trimming appointees
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The former Governorship aspirants, and ex-Head of Human resources management Dangote group, Shuaibu Idris Miqati has commended Governor Nasir El-rufai for taken a bold step to trim down the number of political appointees in his government as requested by Labour, describing it as a step in the right direction.
He also appealed to the Governor to see reasons to pay the entitlement of all workers that were disengaged by the government, stressing that gesture would go long a way to help the suffering citizens who have lost their means of livelihood and require some funds to start lives elsewhere.
Miqati who made the remarks in a statement he issued on Friday in Kaduna stated that the Information he received recently indicated that the Governor announced the disengagement of over 20 Political Appointees from the government.
“To my mind this is a step in the right direction and its timely and welcomed. Often times, one should pray to have good advisers by the side and also pray to be given the wisdom to see reasons to accept advice when and wherever given even if its comes from enemy!”, he stated
He also stated that’ “May I seize this opportunity to once again draw the attention of His Excellency the Governor of our great State to please see reasons to pay the entitlement of all workers that were disengaged by the government.
“This gesture will go long a way to help the suffering citizens who have lost their means of livelihood and require some funds to start life elsewhere or somewhere. No doubts there is the need to right size the service but such action should be done with some level of human feelings.
“I also wish to crave the indulgence of His Excellency to endeavour to follow due process to the later and to abide by the Civil Service Rules and Regulations as regards procedures for declaration of redundancy, early retirement, termination and other forms of separation as provided by the subsisting law.
“Such compliance particularly if done in transparent manner would assure all concerns that justice, equity and fairness are observed and adhered too. Labour would have no basis for declaration of Industrial Action”, he added.
On members of Labour Unions, miqati stated “I crave your indulgence for restraints, cooperation and increased understanding so that all the issues tabled are resolved amicably and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
“Labour would have to learn and accept the hard fact of the need to right size the workforce of the state.
“While I’m not speaking for His Excellency, i most sincerely believe that he has no ulterior motives in the right sizing exercises he has embarked. Indeed it’s always painful to have to approve disengagement of staff.
“No member of a team would drive joy to see people being sent to their homes. Productivity of workers have declined over the years. Technology has made several positions no longer relevant. Skills and competencies of staff has declined.
“Above all income generating ability of the state particularly our federation account share has significantly reduced over the years in absolute terms.
“These are facts that Labour should be aware of so as to see reasons behind the wisdom in having to take the painful decision of disengagement of staff. Labour leaders should endeavour to be fair and reasonable so to allow peace to rein.
“We have no other place to call our State other than Kaduna. We should thus join hands together to build a virile, sustainable and progressive state for our collective good”, the statement noted.
