Date: 2020-03-17

The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engineer Salihu Yakubu Danladi has charged civil servants across the state to imbibe the spirit of dedication and sincerity, stressing that the State relies on them to succeed.

The Speaker made this call on Monday while leading honourable members and appointed political office holders at the screening exercise of the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TSC), Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Local Governments' staff in their respective local governments.

The screening, which is aimed at blocking financial leakages in the State and mopping up resources for public goods commenced today, with State Legislators and political office holders forming the screening team, against the usual culture of hiring consultants for such purpose.

Danladi, who led the Baruten local government team admonished the employees to be sincere and cooperative in the course of the exercise for posterity sake, noting that periodically, people retire or resign from the State civil service, people die and there is no fresh recruitment, yet our wage bill remains constant.

"We are aware of schools with single teachers and those with none, if you lie in defence of anybody, it is at your own peril, you will be treated as one not only destroying the affected school but the community, Baruten local government and Kwara state.

"Our benchmark for oil price in the 2020 budget is $57 per barrel and currently, it has declined drastically, we need to look inward and block leakages so we can be able to pay salaries and execute infrastructural projects", Danladi said. The secretary to the team, Hon. Mohammed Baba Saliu who doubles as the Chairman, House Committee on Education and Human Capital Development said the exercise is part of efforts targeted at sanitizing the rot in the polity and would be very rigorous.

"We know you deserve better welfare, we know our local governments have been redundant, we are oblivious of the paralysis of our education sector and that is why we are doing this. Change is a continuous process and it must be overall. We appeal for your commitment, endurance and support to ensure this exercise meets its required objective", Mohammed said

In the same vein, the Commissioner for Energy, Dr Lafia Aliyu Kora Sabi noted that as a former boss of Baruten local government, he is acquainted with its operations and have enough evidence on some complaints, he, therefore, urged the employees to cooperate with the team towards the success of the exercise.

He said, "this exercise is a litmus test of trust in you (LG, SUBEB and TESCOM employees), your sincerity in the course of this exercise will reflect your interest in the progress, development and future of Baruten and Kwara state".

The local government team, headed by the Director of Personnel Management, Mallam Tsadiku Mohammed assured the Team of their readiness to give maximum support to ensure the screening is successful, understanding its significance to the state's development and employees welfare.

The Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), Mall. Abdulrahman Audu expressed delight in the actions of the State government to sanitize the system, noting it must get it right.

Abdulrahman, however, expressed reservations over non-issuance of updated identity cards and underpayment of some employees against their current levels, which are part of requirements for the screening. He equally made case for consideration of sick staff who could not be physically available for the exercise.

Other members of the Team includes the Special Assitant to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Dr Jemilah Bio-Ibrahim, Commissioner II of Kwara state Civil Service Commission Madam Afeniforo Dorcas and Member Kwara state House of Assembly Service Commission Mall. Mohammed Saidu Bode.