17 years after: 767 District, Village Heads get salary raise in gombe
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
No fewer than 165 district heads and 602 village heads within the eleven Local Government of Areas of Gombe are to benefit from a salary raise by the State Government 17 years after.
Announcing the raise during a press briefing on Friday, at the state secretariat, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibrahim Waziri, said this increment would help boost the performance of the traditional institution.
The last time the state had a review was 2005. However, District Heads salary previously on grade level 6 step 1, has been increased to grade level 12 step 1, while Village Heads take home was increased to grade level 8 grade step 1 from level 3 step 1.
Findings by our correspondent shows that prior to this review District Heads earned N26,000 while Village Heads took home about N23,000 monthly.
Waziri revealed that this was based on attempt by the current administration to fulfill election promises, adding that alot more would follow.
Waziri said, “The governor has increased your salaries and the salaries are as follows; District Heads your salary is grade level 6 step 1 but it has been increased to grade level 12 step 1.
“On the village heads at the moment you collect grade level 3 step 1 and now you will collect grade level 8 step step 1 and also there is an imprest for all district heads of the sum of 15,000 monthly and he (governor) has not forgotten your houses like he promised he has sent consultants to look around and cost what is required in the renovation and in some cases some don’t have residence, we plan to construct one for them.
“You will recall that during our campaigns we went round the entire state and we visited virtually every district head and village heads and we have made promises to you people as leaders at the grassroots and we feel we need to do something particularly on your welfare.”
He lamented the dilapidated structures some of them occupied, stressing that efforts are on to refurbish some and rebuild for those without available structures in phases.
“When we visited you we saw how you were living, your conditions particularly your shelter and also your remuneration package and the governor said then if he come the governor of the state that he will increase your salaries as well as befitting residence.
“We know in the past the role you play in ensuring peace and security in the land. The reason the governor has directed us inform you that every traditional ruler remains or resides in his domain because it will help in alot of ways to maintaining peace and security,” The commissioner added.
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent, Kamalu Gurama ,one of the District Heads from Dukku emirate council, said the increment would go a long way in improving their services to their people.
“We have been collecting meagre account before about N26,000 as a district head and the village head collected about 23,000. Now it has increased to about 50 percent. I’m expecting about N56,000 or more plus N15,000 monthly imprest.
“I wish to call on my colleagues to stick to their responsibilities to mobilise our people to live in peace. I wish to call on the entire people to cooperate with this government in order to actualize their set goals,” Gurama said.
On his part, Senior District Head, Abdulkadir Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of the representatives of both district and village heads lauded the effort of the governor in expediting his campaign promise made over two years ago.
He also called on his colleagues to ensure the peace and stability enjoyed across the settlements continued.
Abubakar said, “We worked with them all and I suspected that Inuwa Yahaya (governor) says nothing but the truth. Inuwa Yahaya keeps his word.
“We must hold our country together and we must hold our security. What is security? Whatever happens, whether in the morning or at night endeavour to forward it the person ahead of you. Local Government chairmen and their secretaries they will forward it here to the ministry for the local government. Let us not joke with reports. we must learn to value reports, And remember to put it in written and not verbally, send it and demand for feedback.”
