Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has disclosed that in an attempt to cut down the cost of governance in the country, the Kaduna State Government has concluded plans to merge some of the state ministries, and also cut down the number of Commissioners into the State Executive Council, as well as reduce the number of other political appointees on its payroll.
He made this statement while receiving the leadership of the Northern Christian Elders Forum at the Government House Kaduna.
The visit was to congratulate El-Rufai, who had just been sworn in as the new Kaduna State Governor and also to seek collaboration, especially in areas of religious intolerance among the people.
Briefing his guests on what he met on ground since he assumed duty, the Governor explained that the aim of cutting down the number of political appointees and ministries in the state had become necessary, considering the enormity of the expectations of delivering development by the people.
The Governor explained that the harsh economic situation where states could no longer pay salaries of civil servants and execute capital projects, necessitated his decision to reduce the number of political appointees and ministries.
Although the new State Executive Council is yet to be constituted, Governor El-Rufai while preempting what his cabinet would look like in days ahead, said he would not maintain a bogus cabinet like his predecessors whereby public funds are largely spent on political appointees at the detriment of the ordinary indigenes.
El-Rufai has already slashed down his salary by 50% along with his Deputy.
He explained that this is the only way to reduce the cost of governance and save money for the development of the state.
