Kaduna: El-Rufai fires warning shot at new commissioners

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has tasked the newly appointed commissioners in the state to hit the ground running.

The governor particularly warned that there would be appraisal every quarter and anyone found wanting will be sacked.

He stated this Friday, while swearing in the new commissioners at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.

According to el-Rufai, the state government is intends to bridge the infrastructural gap through expansion of access to decent education, healthcare and shelter for all citizens.

He added that the state would also construct seven new roads and dualize 14 others in Kaduna city.

“We appoint our commissioners to represent and work for the entire state. We don’t appoint commissioners from local government. The new commissioners will receive and adhere to job description already signed by them. They are to sign key performance indicators for permanent secretaries and directors. All of you will be subjected to quarterly indicators and anybody who is found wanting would be fired.

“The new commissioners are neither rich nor in office to acquire wealth or help their friends to be rich. Genuine public service is a call to duty. All those interested in serving the state should send their resume and CV to the Deputy Governor who is the chief recruitment officer. We would soon be appointing new board chairmen and members. We are aware that Kaduna State House of Assembly dropped one of the commissioner nominees, we would soon appoint a replacement. 

“Kaduna accounts for up to 1million of the 6million housing deficit in Nigeria especially in the low and middle income sector, the state government intends to intervene and address this deficit which is why we created the ministry of Housing and Urban Development to build decent houses that people can buy and pay over 15 to 20 years. We shall focus on low income housing and social protection system.

“We want to put computer in the hands of all civil servants in Kaduna state. We shall be recruiting more teachers and thousands of health workers. Jobs would be available to every Nigerian but only on merit. The Deputy Governor will head the Social Development Council with commissioners of education, health, human services and social development and justice as members,” el-Rufai added.

Governor el-Rufai had nominated 14 cabinet members to the State House of Assembly, but nominee for the Ministry of Agriculture, Aliyu Jafaru was rejected by the assembly over his consistent criticism of the el-Rufai administration.

The Commissioners sworn-in are: Ja’afaru Ibrahim Sani, Ministry of Local Government Affairs; Idris Samaila Nyam, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology; Shehu Usman Makarfi, Ministry of Education; Ibrahim Garba Hussaini, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources; Kabir Muhammad Mato, Ministry of Sports Development; Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa, Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Others are: Samuel Peter Aruwan, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs. Fausat Adebola Ibikunle, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development; Mohammed Bashir Saidu, Ministry of Finance; Hafsat Mohammed Baba, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development; Aisha Dikko, Ministry of Justice; Thomas Gyang, Commissioner for Planning and Budget.

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