Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, says the state has built enough financial discipline to sustain the payment of workers’ salaries and pensioners’ entitlements for five consecutive months without receiving allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
Idris made the disclosure on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi while speaking at the opening of a health workers’ summit organised by the Kebbi State Assembly of Health Workers.
The assembly comprises various professional bodies, including the Medical and Health Workers Union, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, laboratory technicians and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
The governor, a former National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and former Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, assured the health workers that he remained committed to their welfare.
He said his administration had ended the employment freeze in the state shortly after assuming office, leading to the recruitment of 5,166 workers, including doctors, nurses and other health professionals.
According to him, the government has also strengthened the state’s health sector and introduced the new consolidated salary structure for doctors and other health workers.
Idris said the government’s financial prudence had placed the state in a position where it could continue meeting its salary and pension obligations even in the absence of FAAC allocations.
He added that Kebbi would be among the first states to implement the new minimum wage following the conclusion of negotiations between the Federal Government and organised labour.
“I’ll not let you people down or disappoint you, I’m still one of you, immediately I assumed power as the executive governor, I lifted the embargo on employment and employed 5166 new workers into the civil service, including doctors, health workers and nurses.
“My administration has significantly improved the health sector as well as implemented the new consolidated salary structure for doctors and health workers.
“With or without funds from the FAAC, I will be able to pay salaries and pensions for five straight months, because my administration has maintained prudent financial management and discipline.
“After negotiations on the new minimum wage between the Labour and the federal government, Kebbi state under my administration will be among frontline states to effect payment.”
