Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, on Monday evening hosted top government officials in the state to an Iftar, where he emphasised the importance of accountability, discipline and punctuality in the civil service.
The Iftar gathering brought together Permanent Secretaries, Executive Secretaries and Directors-General in the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement issued by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Mallam Abubakar Bawa, the governor used the occasion to caution civil servants against all forms of corruption, stressing that his administration has zero tolerance for corrupt practices.
“As administrative heads and accounting officers in your respective MDAs, you must always observe prudence, accountability, and transparency in your transactions,” the Governor said.
“This administration is worker-friendly and remains committed to ensuring effective service delivery,” he added.
He further urged them to operate strictly in line with civil service rules and regulations while also carrying their subordinates along in the discharge of their duties.
“You must also work in synergy with your commissioners and special advisers to ensure the effective and efficient running of your MDAs,” he stated.
Governor Aliyu also cautioned civil servants against truancy, indolence and lateness to work, noting that his administration has taken major steps to improve their welfare and urged them to reciprocate through dedication and commitment to their responsibilities.
The Governor stated that since inception, his administration has ensured the prompt payment of salaries and pensions as and when due, cleared the backlog of unpaid gratuities inherited from the previous administration, and restored the payment of monthly imprest to MDAs across the state.
He reassured workers of his administration’s determination to continue providing a conducive environment for the civil service to thrive.
Governor Aliyu also noted that training and retraining of civil servants would remain a priority in order to build a more effective and efficient workforce in the state.
Earlier, the State Head of Civil Service, Abdulkadir Ahmed Mohamed, thanked Governor Aliyu for the attention and support given to the civil service.
He commended the Governor for the prompt payment of salaries and pensions, as well as the settlement of outstanding gratuities.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. Therefore, we must reciprocate this gesture by the Governor,” he added.
He also appreciated the Governor for hosting the Iftar, describing it as a demonstration of his simplicity and humility.
The occasion was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, the Chief of Staff, Government House Sokoto, Aminu Haliru Dikko, mni, Permanent Secretaries, Executive Secretaries, Executive Directors, Directors-General and other top government officials.
