PAACA condemns massive Kaduna sack

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has condemned the recent
decision of the Kaduna state Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufia, to abruptly sack an alarming 7
thousand working staff of its state. 

The Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu in a statement issued in Abuja described the action
as uncharitable, irrational, and insensitive, especially at a time when Nigerians in all states, are
battling with harsh economic realities coupled with hunger, insecurity, unemployment  and poor
governance. 

The Executive Director said the state’s intention to cut back on expenses in other to meet its
financial obligations to the good people of Kaduna is highly commendable, but to do that at the
expense of the ordinary Nigerians whose income can only do so much for them and their
families, can be considered cruel and therefore unacceptable. 
According to him, for years, Nigerians have lamented the high cost of governance and bogus
salaries and allowances paid to political officials in all regions, including Kaduna state, calling
for a downward review. 


He however, this reasonable call was met with stiff resistance from the political class, living the
masses to suffer, with majority of them living off a paltry sum as minimum wage, monthly,
without the availability of other sources of income, since government remains the major
employer in the state and country at large. 


“In other to save the state some cash, the government have failed to understand the devastating
effect this decision could have on the lives of families heavily dependent on these sacked
workers, the psychological trauma of being disengaged from what was meant to be a secured and

pensionable job, and moreso, at a time when cost of living is at its peak and food crises is
spiking. 
“These dismissed workers do not even have the option of farming, for the fear of kidnappers and
herders attack, which would have provided some relieve for many. 
“If the government is unable to boost employment or create job opportunities, at least, it should
not take employment away from its people who are already burdened with the impact of
insecurity. 


“While we commend the Nigerian Labour congress and all its affiliate unions for their massive
support and demand for justice, we urge the governor of kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El Rufia to
apply human face and consider the predicaments of the average Nigerians in his state, to convene
his think tanks to fashion out a better alternative for improving the earnings of the state and
cutting back unnecessary cost of governance, without threatening the already stretched kaduna
state workers, ”he said.

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