Open Letter to Gov. Masari

Your Excellency may wish to accept my greetings and goodwill message as your reign lasts. I understand the first lap of your tenure is nearing an end, may you deliver democratic dividends to Katsinawa so much so that you are eventually returned elected at the polls in 2019. It may interest you however, that winning […]

Your Excellency may wish to accept my greetings and goodwill message as your reign lasts. I understand the first lap of your tenure is nearing an end, may you deliver democratic dividends to Katsinawa so much so that you are eventually returned elected at the polls in 2019.

It may interest you however, that winning an election is as easy as it is difficult. This is especially so in a Nigeria where the electoral umpire, INEC, is no longer the same. A pointer to this is Anambra gubernatorial election held few weeks ago. We proudly watched as a level playing atmosphere was created by INEC and security agencies. The elections were free and fair as even the federal might was conspicuously absent. 

This tells of what may be of future elections. Much the same, this is one of the reasons why failing or winning an election is now very easy in Nigeria. But I trust Your Excellency never plans to fail. And if that is the case, you must be ready to not only steer the affairs of Katsina state with the requisite commitment but also with the needed sincerity and purposefulness. 

It may sound familiar to Your Excellency that without an effective civil service you cannot attain any development. And a civil service can be made effective only by ensuring discipline in the service through adhering to its Rules and Ethics. Matters of engagement, promotion, punishment and disengagement are clearly dealt with in the Public Service Rules. 

But it’s disheartening to learn that under your watch certain two thousand local government workers were summarily dismissed since April last year. Due process wasn’t followed in their dismissal. Despite the civil service rules explicitly says that for the purposes of fair hearing, no civil servant shall be punished or dismissed without answering a query, you approved the dismissal of thousands of local government workers. 

It disheartens to learn that you later recalled some and let go of others. But what is more? No rule was followed in the recall process. I am most disturbed you feel happy while those who may have been sacked without committing any offence live in untold hardship. 

But democracy is about freedom. It is about everyone being treated fairly before our laws so they find peace and love as they live their everyday life.

 

Mukhtar Jarmajo, Abuja.