As of Last Month, People Were Still Receiving ₦7k As Salaries – Gov. Lawal

The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has detailed the efforts and frustrations his administration has encountered since he took over office last year. He highlighted the state’s pressing issues during Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, from low salaries to severe security challenges.

Lawal also emphasised that the primary security issues plaguing Zamfara are kidnapping, cattle rustling, and banditry rather than illegal mining.

He criticised the Federal Government-controlled security agencies for their lacklustre performance, which necessitated the creation of the state’s security outfit, the Community Protection Guards, in January.

“We, as governors, don’t have control over the military, we don’t have control over the police as well as the civil defence. In most cases, we get frustrated. When you need these people, they are nowhere to be found and the best thing to do is to set up that kind of security outfit,” he noted.

The governor highlighted a significant barrier to addressing the security crisis: the absence of political will.

He asserted that the state knows who the bandits are and where they reside, and with decisive action, the situation could be resolved in two weeks.

However, the current political climate and instructions given to security personnel have hindered effective action.

Lawal disclosed that there had been instances where negotiations with bandits occurred without his knowledge, undermining the state’s efforts to combat the crisis.

He criticised previous administrations’ negotiations with bandits, noting that such efforts only enriched the marauders without yielding positive results.

Lawal revealed that he has appealed to all service chiefs for assistance but has not seen the necessary political will to support Zamfara’s fight against banditry. He urged for a concerted effort and decisive political action to end the violence and insecurity in the state.

“In two weeks, we can take care of the situation, but the political will is not there,” he reiterated.

He also said, “For three years, our children did not write WAEC or NECO; when we took over, NECO was owed 1.3bn, WAEC 1.6bn, which we had to settle for our kids to sit for exams and some to get their certificates.”

The governor also added that his administration just implemented the N30,000 minimum wage and cleared a backlog of salaries owed by the previous administration.

”As of last month, people were still receiving ₦7k as salaries; we just now implemented the ₦30k. When we took over, we had to clear an over 4-month backlog of salaries; pensions have been pending for about 13.6bn since 2012,” he stated.

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Oluwasegun Sanusi

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