Civil servants in Kaduna take up arms against corruption

From Kaduna SA on ICT Office

Jan 10, 2008

The fight for the eradication of corruption, which has permeated the fabrics of the Nigerian society, can no longer be left for the government at the centre alone. Hence, civil servants of lower cadre in Kaduna State have thrown their hats into the ring to see to the eradication of this societal evil.
Corruption has pervaded the Nigerian system, making it necessary for the establish-ment of two agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corruption Practice and other related offences Commission, ICPC, by the immediate past President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obansanjo.
Only recently, the public sector in Kaduna State joined the fray in the battle to eradicate the scourge from the Nigerian system when it celebrated the Civil service Week with the theme, "Promoting Good Governance with emphasis on Anti-corruption and Ethics".

The Civil Service Week is celebrated annually for civil servants and reviews their various activities while also strategizing for the future. The period of celebration began in Churches, and a public lecture which was followed by a press briefing by the head of service, Kaduna State, Abubakar Mustapha.

At the press briefing, the Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha reitera-ted governments' resolve to abide by the Tangiers Declaration, mandating all African countries to commemorate African Day of Administration; noting, "that the setting aside of June 23rd, every year, is the culmination of the 1994 conference of African ministers of Civil service In Tangiers, Morocco, when the Tangiers declaration mandated all African countries to commemorate African Day of Administration. Hence, it has become an annual rite and a very important day for the civil service nationally and internationally in recognition of its unique, vital and pivotal role in the socio-economic and political development of our state and the nation at large."
The desire for a highly resourceful, committed and educated civil service, would be enhanced with the introduction of policies that will create promotion, which will be based on individual performance of civil servants through promotional examinations that would be introduced in the state to ensure that intending examinees are kept abreast with their schedules, vis-à-vis; training, due process office, contributing pension scheme, the need for cordial relationship with labour and other areas within their scope of job.

According to Alhaji Mustapha, "no government can be successful without the co-operation of civil servants and therefore urged civil servants to continue to be dedicated, loyal and adhere strictly to due process ensuring accountability, hence the best service to humanity".

The Chairman, Kaduna Civil service commission Abubakar Ladan, while commending the effort of civil servants at being committed, dedicated to service, observation and adhering to rules and regulation governing them also appealed to government to ensure that salaries, allowances and pension, are paid as at when due, which is one very important requirement for a dedicated civil service.

Governor Arch Mohammed Namadi Sambo is a true democrat, whose approach to problems is always humane and conciliatory he is a man of peace who patiently looked to the future with courage and hope. His commitment in the direction of transforming the state into a relatively better integrated and functional polity is continuing  with a mission  to create a stable  and cohesive polity capable of securing effectively the interests of the various communities and giving them the opportunity to develop and live in peace  with one another.

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