ON MAY 17, 2016

By Luka Binniyat

KADUNA—Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State yesterday said 90 per cent of the state revenue was being spent on public servants in the state, saying there was an urgent need to raise more funds internally. This came as hundreds of physically-challenged and street beggars, stormed the state Government House, protesting against a law passed by House of Assembly banning begging and hawking in the state. The governor, who spoke while inaugurating Boards of five newly created Agencies and Parastatals in the state, said: “We promised to make this state attractive to private investors who can create multiple of the few direct jobs.

Less than 100,000 persons are employed in the public service of Kaduna State, out of a population that is between 8 million and 10 million. ”The wages of these fewer than 100,000 workers are relatively low, but together consume about 90% of state resources. In March 2016, Kaduna State got N2.4 billion from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee. That same month, our wage bill was N2.2 billion. ”That leaves only N200m. When you add overheads to this, you get a full picture of the dire financial situation that low revenue and public service expenses have placed the state.”

Meanwhile, the protesting beggars thronged the gate of Government House, displaying placards with various inscriptions and chanted anti-government slogans.

The protesters, who were prevented by armed policemen from gaining access to the Government House, expressed disappointment that alleged an agreement reached between Governor El-Rufai before and after he won election, was betrayed with the enactment of the law, without palliatives. “We are saying that a Commission for disable persons be formed first before El-Rufai should make begging and hawking illegal in the state,” said Ahmed Saidu, a cripple who spoke in Hausa to Vanguard at the scene of the protest.

“The Commission will have all kinds of alternative means of lively hood for us, since most of us have been trapped by our conditions in this part of the country into becoming beggars. We will be very happy not to beg, if we have a choice. But, now, does he want us to starve to death?,” he charged. Later 10 representatives from various physically challenged groups were allowed into the government house to met with the governor. How at the time of this report, representatives of the protesters were still inside Sir Ibrahim Kashim Government House.

orunto27:
Let us reduce the expenditure to N1.1bn by cutting the work force of all cadre by half. The job presently done by two, should be left to one. Use the Savings(Cuts) in money and workers to establish large scale Agricultural Holdings in some strategic areas of the state. The problem in not limited to Kaduna. Other Governments should learn from El-Rufai's solution.