If today, for example, someone wakes up from his slumber,and instigates Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i to instantly leave his Kaduna gubernatorial position, almost two years before completion of his four-year mandate as required by the constitution, will El-rufa’i heed the call and resign forthwith? I know instead, the governor of Kaduna state will no doubt roll up his sleeves and excessively employ every means at his disposal to fight his untimely removal. Therefore, the Kaduna state civil servants wouldn’t sit idle and watch El-Rufa’i relieve them of their respective means of livelihood before their required, mandatory age of service. They’ll definitely use every legitimate means to pursue, or more so overturn their illegal removal.
Admittedly, it is within the right of a governor as an employer of labour to retrench workers as he deems it right, but considering the huge implications and consequences, El-Rufa’i needs to rescind his anti-workers decisions. It’s strange to note that states like Kano with workers much more than that of Kaduna, but with little revenue than Kaduna state are managing themselves with huge infrastructural development without dismissing a single employee. Sad to note that we have been forced to believe ad nauseam with politicians’ palatable impression that the civil service was over-bloated and there is the need to right size to augment it with resources for public use.
Though I’m a layperson with respect to the country’s contingent laws of public service, rules, guidelines and regulations, but to no avail, no matter how deep you dig to try to sugarcoat El-Rufa’i’s strange sack of public servants, I don’t even imagine that the governor will not make himself busy with numerous government’s responsibilities and engaged in this sickening sacking spree. El-Rufa’i as an accidental public servant who still holds numerous entitlements, privileges and benefits for being one among Nigeria’s public servants, no one can even imagine how he turned against the dutiful civil service employees. It’s also worthy of note to say that it’s in recognition of his meritorious service to public service, El-Rufa’i’ wrote an accidental public servant.
Also, huge budgetary allocations accrued in adequate servicing of elected executives’ lifestyles, entourage, and various allowances enjoyed by the elected officials will no doubt continued to be maintained despite the so-called funds’ deficiency. That’s why one could hardly believe the unfolding events coming from El-Rufa’i’s Kaduna state. To many, this mass sack news is hardly, unbelievably surprising. On account of still yet to be ascertained offence, to sack all staff of a particular single cadre by a mere fiat will further expose El-Rufa’i as a dictatorial ruler with no mercy to employees. As a chief beneficiary of government services, no one will imagine El-Rufa’i to spearhead a campaign for retrenchment of workers with this vigorous determination. If shortage of funds wouldn’t allow El-Rufa’i’ to come up with massive welfare programs that’ll better the lives of his Kaduna people, at least, don’t rob them with their means of living thereby inflicting more pains on the lives of the electorates.
Abbas Datti
