Re: Can someone save Kano civil service?

I read a roguish piece titled: “Can someone save Kano civil service?’’ in the Daily Trust of Saturday, August 10, 2019 authored by one Hassan Hassan Goronmaje, apparently a pen name from Unguwar Rimi, Kaduna. The article puckishly attempted to give a debauched impression on the ongoing reform in the Kano state civil service by the […]

I read a roguish piece titled: “Can someone save Kano civil service?’’ in the Daily Trust of Saturday, August 10, 2019 authored by one Hassan Hassan Goronmaje, apparently a pen name from Unguwar Rimi, Kaduna. The article puckishly attempted to give a debauched impression on the ongoing reform in the Kano state civil service by the administration of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Kano state. The spiteful material appears to be a hit back from the enraged partisan public servants, who are bent on denting the image of the administration by enervating the reform agenda aimed at giving the service a reprieve.

Having warily studied the piece, the mawkishness of the writer is laid unembellished as either sponsored by, sympathetic to or members of the Kwankwasiyya group which, going by its previous jaunts, could go to any length to undermine the Ganduje administration. As a fictitious name is used on the piece, I initially decided not to revere the tacky item with a response, but looking at its content, one is keen to put out a response, because from all indications, the sentimentality expressed therein points to the flustered individuals consumed by the reform which is intended to cleansing the civil service from partisan politics. The rejoinder is also intended to unearth the tissues of lies presented by the author in a way that may look true-life to unwary public who knows not.

To my understanding, Governor Ganduje initiated the reform programme targeted at repositioning the state service to allow it perform its statutory role bereft of partisan politics. He also wants to bequeath a legacy of an unprejudiced and dispassionate service system as part of his broad vision to move the state to the next level.

During the 2019 gubernatorial election campaign, some senior civil servants were said to have actively got involved in partisan politics, by sponsoring jingles, and other radio/television programmes, printing of posters clearly with their names and even offering monetary donations to a particular gubernatorial candidate in the state. No responsible government can afford to look the other way.

Therefore, the sweeping reforms on the top echelon of the state civil service, started with relieving all the permanent secretaries in the state civil service of their appointment in line with the present administration’s resolve to vigorously implement the reform programme. In its high-mindedness, the administration directed all substantive directors on grade level 16 or 17, as well as the permanent secretaries relieved, who are interested to apply for the position of permanent secretary in the state civil service.

Based on that, an implementation committee was set up after the screening of the prospective applicants which submitted its report to the governor who appointed the new permanent secretaries on merit and in accordance with the established rules and regulations. Other considerations include compulsory drug test to mitigate drug abuse in the state and ensuring fair representation in the appointment of public servants into top stratum of the service. Prior to this reform, Kano Municipal alone has eight appointed permanent secretaries, while other local governments, despite having eligible civil servants were denied the opportunity.

While the Ganduje administration has been labeled as civil service friendly based on its positive approach to matters that affect the wellbeing of the civil servants, former Kano state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for whom the sponsors are apparently working for, adopted a hostile posture during his two term tenure in office where workers remained in palpable fear of being victimized.

It is true that historically, government changes periodically, but the civil service remains intact because of the security of tenure it enjoyed. If we recall vividly the history, Kwankwaso is the first chief executive to set bad precedence in matters of civil service in Kano state. During Kwankwaso’s first term in office, he demoted Malam Ibrahim Shekarau from a Permanent Secretary to a class teacher.

Had it been that the writer conducted thorough research, he would have come across the series of witch-hunt by Kwankwaso when he held sway as governor. His actions, as far as civil servants are concerned, smacks of political vendetta. Shrewdly or otherwise, your sponsors are living witness to the witch-hunt by Kwankwaso who sent on compulsory retirement, Audu Lawan K/Mazugal, Farouk Lawan Yola, Sabo Abdurrahman, Abdullahi Sani Zango, popularly known as Datauri who were permanent secretaries and at the peak of their careers. For the same reason, he demoted Ali Auwalu from the position of permanent secretary to a director.

In fact, the civil service has not had it fairly during Kwankwaso’s second term in office.  One of the most unpopular policy he introduced was the tenure system for Permanent Secretaries and Directors in the State Civil Service as well as Directors Personnel Management and Heads of Departments in the Local Government after spending 8 years on their respective positions. That policy, which was solely aimed at favouring and grooming political cronies for political interest had negatively impacted on the service as officers on Grade Level 12 and 13 were appointed as sit-in directors with no cognitive experience. Governor Ganduje had to abolish that tenure system to not only allow for experienced senior civil servants to man government affairs but also allow senior civil servants to continue to build their careers. Many of the permanent secretaries retired recently are direct beneficiaries of the policy reversal by the Ganduje administration.

The harm has already been done by Kwankwaso who politicised the civil service, particularly during his second term in office, where even permanent secretaries wore the red cap to imply their association with Kwankwasiyya group, either enthusiastically or out of fear of being victimised.

It is our hope that the reform programme of the Ganduje administration will usher in a new era where permanent secretaries will maintain their position as civil servants and stay away from partisan politics. Governor Ganduje should also remain focused in implementing the reform programme to the latter.

Abubakar wrote in from Kano.