by Musa Abdullahi
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, on Friday said he would forfeit 50 per cent of his salary pending when the financial situation of the state improves.
The governor stated this in his inaugural address, after he was sworn-in by the state Chief Judge, Justice Tanimu Zailani in Kaduna.
He said that the pay cut would also affect the Deputy Governor, Mr Barnabas Bala. El-Rufa’i also declared that the administration would “guarantee free and compulsory basic education for every child up to JS3, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity.”
He said that in spite of the challenges facing the state, the administration would also “focus on jobs, security, education, and healthcare.” “The fact is that today Kaduna State cannot meet its obligations without handouts from the federal government.
“We cannot comfortably pay salaries of our teachers and nurses and civil servants. “And after struggling to pay salaries, we can do little else.
“We cannot fix the schools, help our farmers, repair our roads, or treat the sick. We have arrived at a dead end. The patient is sick, and it needs radical therapy.”
El-Rufa’i said the situation demanded for “difficult decisions,” adding that political office holders must sacrifice the comfort of their offices for the greater good of all.
Meanwhile, the inauguration of Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State ended abruptly on Friday. It was reported that El-Rufai could not review the parade mounted by the police as some youths pelted dignitaries with water sachets, stones and other objects in the pavilion.
This prompted security agents to fire tear gas into the crowd at the Murtala Square, Kaduna.
NAN also reports that some dignitaries in the pavilion included the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, and other traditional rulers in the State.
The incident occurred when the new governor had concluded his address and was about to mount an open van to review the parade mounted by the police.
While the crowds were dispersed by the police, dignitaries remained seated, but the occasion ended abruptly without the governor reviewing the parade
