Kwara Gov Dismisses Rumour Of Sacking Civil Servants After Re-election

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Thursday, dismissed rumour of civil servants sack in the state if reelected in 2023 for the second term in office.

Speaking during an interactive session commemorating the 2022 civil service week held at the Banquet Hall, Ilorin, Governor Abdulrazaq said ” one of the ways to maintain social stability in the society, is to ensure that as many people as possible are productively engaged and are able to put food on the table of their families.

“For us, sacking workers is not an option, our belief is that civil servants are the lubricants of this economy.

Whatever you pay them, helps to keep the fabric of the society together, worse still, you don’t really save anything by sacking workers, instead it creates more problems, it is not an option for us,” he declared.

Governor Abdulrazaq restated his commitment to the welfare of the workers in the state, with labour and civil servants commending him for his steady pro-workers’ policies, including prompt payment of salaries and promotion.

He reiterated that civil servants are the life wire of public service, recalling how his administration had restored running costs to the civil service after many years, effected promotion with cash-backing, purchased dozens of operational vehicles, and implemented and sustained the payment of the minimum wage in a manner that labour and civil service leaders say is a reference point in Nigeria.

The programme was organised by the office of the State Head of Service headed by Mrs Susan Modupe Oluwole, and attended by the Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; cabinet members; Kwara NLC chief Comrade Issa Ore; TUC chairman Comrade Tunde Joseph; Chairman Joint Negotiating Council Comrade Saliu Suleiman; among others.

“Since our assumption of office, we have prioritised payment of salaries, pension and gratuity because we know how important they are.

“When that is not done, it creates a lot of distractions. But we want you to remain focused on what you do. For us, we can say it is most paramount for us to pay your wages and prioritise your training and welfare,” he said.

The event afforded the Governor another opportunity to take questions and observations from the civil servants after which he responded in great detail.

“There is a rumour about sacking civil servants after elections and all that, it is quite laughable.

“The first question you will ask is how much do we save by sacking workers? You don’t save anything because even if you sack a worker you have to compensate him or her one way or the other.

“You have to pay the pension and gratuity, so at the end of the day you are not saving anything.

“Besides, how much are we even paying them that we want to sack them?,” the Governor queried.

He commended the workers for their continued support for the government