The Jigawa State House of Assembly has called on the Local Government Service Commission to enforce strict disciplinary measures against any local government staff found wanting, saying this will serve as a deterrent and protect the system from stagnation.
The call was made by the Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Local Government, Honourable Aminu Zakari, after completing a two-day working visit to the commission’s office in Dutse, the state capital on Friday.
Zakari, representing Gwiwa Constituency, stressed the vital need for the commission to act without fear or favour when disciplining errant staff.
He said, “Disciplinary measures must always be taken against any local government staff found wanting without fear or favour to protect the system from stagnation.”
Zakari also urged the commission to maintain the tempo on proper administrative and financial record keeping to set a solid example for local government administrators across the state.
The visit, according to Zakari, was timely in reinforcing good governance and administrative discipline among local government staff.
He reiterated that maintaining strict control over financial and administrative records prevents corruption and inefficiency at the grassroots level.
Zakari urged continuous vigilance and proactive action by the commission to curb mismanagement and uphold accountability.
Furthermore, the committee’s chairman suggested convening a meeting between the committee, the Ministry for Local Government, and the Local Government Service Commission, adding that “the aim is to find lasting solutions to persistent staff matters and improve local government administration in Jigawa.”
On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Lawal Muhammad, acknowledged some challenges related to staff matters and local administration in the state.He emphasized that these issues require joint efforts from all stakeholders to safeguard the system effectively.
Responding, the Chairman of the Jigawa State Local Government Service Commission, Uba Ringim, represented by the Permanent Commissioner II, Ali Jahun, welcomed the committee’s visit warmly.
He affirmed the commission’s commitment to operating according to best practices and the recommendation of the Assembly’s committee.
Jahun assured that they would implement the recommendations and advice from the committee to enhance service delivery within the local government framework.
The Permanent Secretary also added that fostering collaboration among stakeholders is key to addressing ongoing challenges and strengthening local governance.
“This joint approach signals a renewed effort towards better local government administration and improved public service in Jigawa State,” he revealed.
Local governments, as the third tier of government in Nigeria, play a vital role in grassroots development, handling primary healthcare, basic education, sanitation, and rural infrastructure.
However, they are often plagued by inefficiency, corruption, poor record-keeping, and weak accountability, which hinder service delivery.
In Jigawa State, which has 27 local government areas, concerns over ghost workers, absenteeism, and administrative lapses have been recurring issues.
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