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Bauchi gov laments huge wage bill
By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
Senator Bala Mohammed, the Governor of Bauchi state has decried increasing wage bill despite the state not employing new workers over the years.
The Governor who was speaking during the closing ceremony of a retreat organized by the office of the Head of Civil Service at the state Hajj Camp Friday, regretted that despite migration of workers who retired to pension platforms the nominal roll is increasing.
“Of course somebody has just spoken about the nominal roll, the nominal roll is developed by the service, we the Politicians are frustrated, yesterday somebody talked about stress, anytime I see the Accountant General, it stresses me, even when he was talking he was stressing me because I didn’t understand what he was saying, people are retiring, they are migrating to pension platforms but my salaries, the portfolio is increasing, and we are not employing and nobody will come and give me any explanation as to what is happening”, the Governor said.
The governor added that “yesterday Dr Ishaku spoke very well and this is a challenge to our civil service and to our political appointees, all of us, the new Commissioners are here, you are to drive the nominal roll, we have to get tangible and measurable savings from the salary portfolio otherwise we cannot get money to employ”.
Governor Mohammed said that the people have been hinted that over ten thousand of them would be employed, lamented that service no longer have the technical people, the engineers, the accountants as well as the administrative officers.
“They are all gone, even our extension workers are not there, how do we progress, our education system is producing graduates and we are not absorbing them, our system is very poor and yet we sit here and delude and deceive ourselves, paying six to seven billion Naira monthly while not employing”, the governor decried.
According to him, “some people are earning what they don’t work for, period, and we cannot develop the data, so, it’s a challenge”.
Governor Bala who urged the need for a change of mindset towards public service regretted that people believe they will sit down in their offices and get double salary.
“We have to change mindset, mindset of all of us. People believe that they will sit down in their offices and get double salary or in their local government and input people that will be collecting money or in our emirate councils or our local councils, we have to make the change because this is Haram, mind you, we are Muslims or christians, this is Haram money, that is why may be we are not progressing because we are all living on Haram, educating our children on Haram, living above our means”, Governor Bala Mohammed pointed out.
The Governor further said, “I have studied very well, our system is rotten, we try to eat what we cannot afford, somebody have spoken about education, how many of us are taking our children to government schools, even though they have teachers, they have everything, in some primary schools you don’t even have the teachers on reality checks but on paper you have so many of them, so we have to change”.
While stressing that the state primary health department agency has to work, the governor revealed that the over one thousand primary health centers have been built in partnership with development partners.
He however, observed that hospital rooms do not make a clinic without the human capital, adding that the state cannot employ because ghost workers have taken the job spaces.
“I am always frustrated, we want to employ, pre-service employment of Doctors, nurses and midwives, when we were growing, this is how it was done, seamless migration after graduation, at least you will get the trained nurse in a PHC, we don’t have them anymore, we have revolving fund that we established when we came but they have been encroached upon, equipments that we bought in the hospitals are been stolen and no body is doing anything, no penalty, our punishment and reward systems are not working”, the governor said.
He further noted: “I think that is the essence of coming here for us to sit down and talk to ourselves that we need to change”.
Anambra State has described as untrue, story making the rounds on media that some structures at the new government house collapsed on Thursday following rainstorm.
A statement signed by Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Saturday, said the report was false and malicious, saying no structure within the new government house collapsed.
The statement said what was affected was a portion of the barricade barriers constructed outside the government house perimeter fence and attributed the incident to heavy wind that affected many structures across the state including privately owned properties.
The statement reads- “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to misleading and mischievous reports by a few sections of the media suggesting that “a structure in the new Government House” collapsed due to substandard quality during the heavy rainstorm that occurred on Thursday evening, 9th April, 2026.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to set the records straight, we wish to state categorically that no structure within the Anambra State Government House collapsed. What was affected were a few partitions of the barricade barriers erected outside the Government House, approximately 20 metres away from the perimeter fence.
“The unfortunate incident was as a result of heavy wind and thunderstorms that wreaked havoc across several parts of the state that evening, which also affected property in private homes.
“Meanwhile, the Anambra Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) has already mobilised to the site. Work is ongoing to fully rebuild the damaged sections of the barrier and to introduce additional engineering measures, including the creation of ample space to allow for free flow of heavy wind, in order to prevent future occurrences.
“The Anambra State Government condemns the circulation of fake news on this matter as a deliberate attempt by a few misguided elements to mislead Ndi Anambra and politicise a natural weather event which is not exclusive to Anambra State.
“We urge the general public to disregard the fake news and continue to support the progressive agenda of Mr Governor.”
Photo caption: (L-R) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Adam Kambari; and the Director General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, at the NiMet headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Director General/CEO of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike on Thursday, played host to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mahmud Adam Kambari, who was in his office at the agency’s Abuja headquarters.
The visit is part of ongoing familiarization tour by Kambari, of the agencies under the Ministry and is aimed at strengthening institutional alignment, enhancing collaboration, and reviewing operational priorities within Nigeria’s aviation sector.
During the engagement, Prof. Charles Anosike presented an overview of the Agency’s mandate, technical capabilities, and key initiatives.
He highlighted the strategic importance of NiMet’s mandate within the aviation industry and beyond, including various publications generated by the Agency such as the Aeronautical Meteorological Bulletin, the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and others in supporting air navigation, national planning, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience.
He noted that meteorological services have evolved beyond traditional observation, monitoring and forecasting to becoming critical tools for national security, economic stability, food security, and sustainable development.
“Accurate and timely weather and climate information plays a vital role in safeguarding lives, livelihoods and property across multiple sectors,” Anosike noted.
He also outlined notable milestones, including the attainment of ISO certifications, which underscore NiMet’s adherence to international standards in service delivery.
Additionally, he highlighted the Agency’s growing partnerships with key national institutions, as well as international partners, aimed at strengthening capacity, improving services and enhancing national resilience.
In his remarks, Kambari commended NiMet for its strategic contributions to aviation safety and national development. He stressed the importance of collaboration, capacity building, and alignment with national aviation objectives.
“Strong institutional synergy is essential for achieving the Ministry’s mandate,” The Permanent Secretary emphasized.
He further underscored the need to prioritise staff welfare, describing a motivated and well-supported workforce as fundamental to effective service delivery.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting NiMet in strengthening operational capacity, enhancing workforce development, and sustaining high-quality service delivery.
The Permanent Secretary was accompanied by directors and senior officials of the Ministry.
The visit aligns with the broader vision of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to promote synergy, innovation, and efficiency across agencies under the Ministry.
By Bonaventure Phillips Melah
Photo News: Ongoing conversation organized by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) on Democracy and Economic Growth Nexus Report Launch at Transcorps Hilton Abuja. Among dignitaries include ex-President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, SGF George Akume, Minister of state Budget Doris Uzoka Anita, Mr. Peter Obi, Dr. Mathew Ayibakuro, Dr. Sam Amadi (represented), Majeed Dahiru and others. The event was declared open by GJF Executive Director, Ann Iyonu. Details loading.
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