Civil Servants in Katsina State have commended Governor Aminu Bello Masari for the tremendous achievements in his eight-year tenure.
The workers singled out the huge reforms in the public service sector by Masari.
The Head of Service of Katsina State, Alhaji Idris Tune, who led the commendation, said Governor Masari’s administration has recorded giant strides in enhancing the civil service in the state.
Tune, who spoke to a group of newsmen in his office in Katsina, said the various reforms introduced by the administration have made far-reaching impact on the quality of civil service in the state.
He listed the reforms as follows: enhanced staff training, improve medicare services,etc
He also said Masari was outstanding on prompt payment of salaries of civil servants despite other competing demands on the state state’s resources.
Tune said timely payment of salaries has boosted the morale of civil servants to give their best which has translated to drastic improvement in service delivery.
The Head of Service also highlighted other achievements of the administration as timely payment of pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants.
He said only two-yeargratuities were owed retirees.
Another achievement that was lauded by Head of Civil Service, was the S-Power initiative which has bridged the gap in number of teachers in public schools in the state.
He said: “That programme of S-power for degree holders and N.C.E holders was introduced in order to mop up graduates in those categories so that they can have something doing before more permanent opportunities can come.
“2000 graduate degree holders were employed, given N25,000 stipends, NCE holders were given N20,000 as stipends and 5,000 of them were employed. That is the number the government has been carrying along since the programme started.
“That is the contribution in terms of employment generation and as part of the efforts to tackle poverty. We have tried to take off the minds of our younger elements from the streets. “
Tune also commended the vehicle loan given to civil servants to purchase vehicles and make their vehicles serviceable to ease their movement to work and other activities.
He said: ”Also, we took a census of all the civil servants that have been occupying government quarters over the years and we assessed the quarters and sold them under the workers-owner-occupier basis”
“The value given to the houses was discounted in a manner that civil servants can afford to pay. Those who are not willing to pay can transact and arrange with people who have the capacity to pay and in the process most civil servants were able to change their lives for better.”
He praised the Masari administration for introducing Primary Health Care (PHC) under ”One Roof and the Contributory Health Agency” which has made healthcare more affordable for civil servants in the state.