Governor begs state legislators to slash salaries

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has pleaded with lawmakers in the state to slash their salaries and allowances in order to reduce the cost of governance and ensure more development in the state.

El-Rufai made the plea on Wednesday, June 10, 2015, during a visit to the State House of Assembly.

“The Deputy Governor and I have signalled our intention in this regard by announcing that we are taking a pay cut of 50 per cent of our salary and allowances until the fiscal situation of the state improves,” he said.

“We appeal to all political office holders to embrace this example and attitude of sacrifice. Once done with paying salaries, allowances, overheads and pensions, the state is unable to do much by way of building infrastructure or providing services. The stark fact is that Kaduna State spends 80 per cent of its total revenues on its public servants and political office holders,” he added.

“Can we as elected leaders deliver any significant service or implement progressive actions or attain desirable outcomes for the majority of our people if we devote only 20 per cent of available resources to their needs? Would we not be undermining the very rationale of democracy if, after being elected by majority vote, we uphold a system that solely serves the pleasures of a servant-minority?” the governor said.

El-Rufai had, upon assumption of office, slashed his salary and that of his deputy by 50% in a bid to reduce the cost of governance in the state.