THESHIELD Garkuwa
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Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Abdul-Razak Nuhu Zaki refuted the allegation that his ministry masterminded the suspension of Education Secretaries of the 20 local government areas of the state and their treasuries.
Hon. Abdulrazak Nuhu Zaki stated this during a press briefing at the Bauchi NUJ Secretariat on Wednesday.
The Bauchi State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress had alleged that the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs ordered the suspension of the Education Secretaries of the 20 local governments of the state and shortchanging unsuspected local government workers and pensioners of their entitlements.
Hon. Zaki said the Bauchi State NLC Chairman “was not fair to me because whatever action was done, I cannot do it by myself.”
“I did not Suspended anybody. It was the state government that Suspended those who were on suspension,” the Commissioner said.
The Commissioner maintained that the Education Secretaries and their treasuries were Suspended to pave way for proper investigation into the infusion of “fake staffs into the payroll.”
“The investigations are still ongoing. When you Suspended somebody you cannot take him back without completing the investigation process is still on.
“But it is unfortunate that the Chairman Bauchi State NLC to come openly and labeled that allegation against my humble self.
“I am working unbehalf of the government. There was no power vested on me to suspend anybody just like that. And, even if there is suspension, it is the decision of the higher authority (the governor) not me. I did not sign any document to suspend anybody,” Hon. Zaki said.
Hon. Zaki explained that the suspension notice served to the affected officers was signed by the Secretary to the State Government.
Commenting on non-payment of salaries to some local government staffs, the Commissioner said ” we have paid all salaries. There was no single month that the ministry did not pay all the staffs from the 20 local governments and staff of the ministry.”
The Commissioner however, argued further that he approved salary boucher of every month and forward it to the state treasury office to effect the payment.
Ho. Zaki divulged that about 876 retired local government staffs of the state are still on the salary payroll.
“The local government salaries keep increasing, likewise the pensions’. There is no wisdom if people are retiring an the salary is increasing as well as the pensions,” the Commissioner emphasised.
