.Niger Water Board begins metering of consumers
By Priscilla Campbell, Minna
Four permanent secretaries are currently said to be involved in the falcification of their ages in the Niger state Civil Service.
This, findings showed, was to enable them remain in service beyond the mandatory 60 years of service out of desperation.
Against, this backdrop, the state government has allegedly constituted a special committee to unravel the fraudulent act.
Apparently, disturbed by the barrel of petitions, particularly from low cadre civil servants on the issue, a source close to the Head of Service said the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, personally gave the directive at one of the recent state executive council meetings held in Minna that those involved be interogated to sanitize the system.
The source also revealed that the Governor directed that names of children, wives and relations of top functionaries in the Civil Service on the government pay roll, though not employees of government should be removed, while those involved punished.
Following the directive of the governor, it was gathered that some Directors of Administration were given the mandate to carryout the investigations that has started revealing serious scandal by some of them as three permanent secretaries were caught and two out of them forced to leave the service as evidence revealed they tempered their ages.
It was gathered that one of affected permanent secretary had taken the government before the National Industrial Court to allegedly challenge his “premature retirement from service.”
The third permanent secretary, in an effort to save himself, is said to have claimed that the civil service had given him a notification to remain in service up to next year, 2020, even though, he ought to have left the service last year going by the 22/09/1958 as his date of birth contained in his age declaration certificate.
According to the source, ‘In 1990 when he joined the state civil service, he quoted in his declaration of age that he was born on 22nd September, 1958 and this is what is contained in his first appointment letter, meaning that he should have left the service last year, 2018 after attaining 60 years of age.
“But surprisingly he submitted another statutory declaration of age in 2010, where he claimed that he was born on October 15,1963, meaning that he has five more years to spend in service.”
Those involved in this fraud were permanent secretaries and senior directors in the ministry.
Confirming the development, the immediate past Head of Service, Alh. Sule Yabagi said two permanent Secretaries have been directed to leave the service after investigation revealed that they have overstayed in the service through the doctoring of their age.
He also explained that, “the Notification being claimed by the third permanent secretary was wrongfully gotten since, he did not route his application through this office as expected under the civil service rules.”
However, efforts to get the reaction of the new Head of Service, Hajiya Salamatu T. Abubakar, failed as she was said to be attending a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Jos plateau State.
Meanwhile, Niger State Water Board has commenced the metering of water to commercial customers as part of a pilot exercise to ensure that they only pay for the volume consumed.
In a statement by the Public Relations Manager, Aliyu Jibo Garba, the decision would curtail wastage and enhance equitable and qualitative services for the residents of Minna.
He explained that the three numbers of 3-inch meters had been installed at the water tanker lifting points in Chanchaga Water Works, Minna.
The General Manager of NSWB, Engr. Hassan Mohammed Chado, assured that the installation of the meters would benefit water consumers and increase revenue while ensuring water conservation.
“The metering will also strengthen transparency and accountability of revenue collectors on the side of Niger State Water Board.
“With this metering exercise, every kobo collected will be accounted for and we will ensure customers get the value of the services they pay for.”
The exercise, according to a Chado, was prompted as a result of the ongoing reforms supported by the USAID funded Effective -Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services programme.
“E-WASH will continue to support NSWB in ensuring that the meters are distributed and maintained properly”.
He also disclosed that plans were on to expand the metering exercise to continue and cover all customers in the state once the pilot schemes have been tested and are successful.
Chado then appealed to the general public to report leakages and all forms of illegal connections, he assured that the State Water Board remains committed and is always working to serve you better.
