Date: 2017-05-23

As the Kwara State Head of Service (HoS), Hajia Zahra Omar bows out of service next month (June), mixed feelings have continued to trail her short tenure.

Hajia Omar made history in June 2015 as the highest female political office holder in the state following her appointment by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. She succeeded her Kwara North compatriot, Alhaji Mohammed Dabarako and it did not take her too long to bring some sanity into the service.

By next month, Omar will be due for retirement as she would have served for 35 years as enshrined in the civil service act.

While a few of Omar's seniors in the civil service have showered her with praises, a top official of the labour union has criticised her for the unhealthy relationship that exists between her and labour unions in the state.

According to the Labour official, who asked not to be named, "The HoS recently hijacked a major project designed for the civil servants in the state. She discredited our efforts while crediting the project wholeheartedly to the state government."

However, when contacted separately on the performance of the HoS so far, the NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Yekeen Agunbiade and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Kolawole Olumoh both declined comment.

"We are going to respond on her performance at a later date as we are still assessing her," the NLC boss submitted. On his part, Olumoh said: "I am going to comment on her achievements later. There is an issue we are sorting out with the HoS for now."

However, the immediate past HoS, Dabarako, who initially declined comment stressed that given the dwindling economy, the first female HoS in the state has performed to expectation.

He said, "I can't comment on her performance because all of us operated under different financial environment. I think the civil servants are the best people to speak on her achievements.

"However, if it's necessary to speak on her contribution, I will say she has tried her best in transforming some things during her tenure. "There are certain areas she was able to add value to and we are all benefiting from it as Kwarans," the immediate past Hos said.

In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Benjamin Fatigun submitted that the HoS has been splendid despite the fact that the country is facing financial crisis.

"As the number one civil servant in the state, she was able to adhere to her responsibility in ensuring that the demands of core civil servants are met.

"Her tenure witnessed promotion of civil servants and also salaries are being paid regularly. It is understandable to say Kwara under Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is among the few states in the country that does not owe civil servants salaries. On the presumption by labour unions that the HoS doesn't carry staffers of other MDAs along in her performance, Fatigun submitted they are not under her responsibility directly as it is stipulated in the laid down rules and regulations.

He said, "We have witnessed the several interventions by HoS before the state government on issues relating to the workers under these agencies and parastatals despite the fact that they are not directly under her control. "The HoS has done her best in ensuring that civil servants' welfare was a major priority in the state."

Also Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Bisi Fakayode said, "Hajia Zahra is an embodiment of humility if you see the way she behaves, you won't even believe the background she comes from.

"The woman is equally a disciplinarian; she has turned the service around. Prior to her appointment, a lot of indiscipline such as late coming among others by civil servants; she had succeeded in curbing completely.

"Under her leadership, there have been a lot of e-service training for workers and she has cooperated with my office to maintain industrial harmony for workers in the state."

Fakayode stressed that the HoS is the engine room for most of the achievements of the Governor in terms of salaries payment and prompt promotion of civil servants. He said," the woman makes sure there is constant meeting between myself and her with labour unions to dialogue on some issues and we are enjoying the industrial harmony today."

Recall that Hajia Omar sometimes last year took many by surprise when she locked employees of the Governor's office out for coming late to office.

She also spearheaded the staff verification exercise in the state leading to the discovery of more than a few ghost workers. The no-nonsense HoS also did a major shake-up in the civil service by redeploying some employees who looked unmovable to other ministries and parastatals.