By Sunday Ameh
The Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has said his administration can sustain the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for five consecutive months without receiving allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
Idris made the declaration 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 governor attributed the financial capacity of his administration to what he described as prudent management of the state’s resources and fiscal discipline.
He said, “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.”
Idris, a former National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and former Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, assured health workers that his background in the labour movement remained a major influence on his administration.
He said his government had lifted the embargo on employment upon assuming office and subsequently recruited 5,166 workers into the state civil service.
According to him, the beneficiaries included doctors, nurses and other health workers.
The governor also said his administration had improved the state’s health sector and implemented the new consolidated salary structure for doctors and other health professionals.
“I’ll not let you people down or disappoint you. I’m still one of you,” he told the health workers.
Idris further pledged that Kebbi would be among the frontline states to implement the new minimum wage following negotiations between organised labour and the Federal Government.
The summit brought together various health professional groups, 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.
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