Bauchi  Commits to Resolving Challenges in Salary Administration

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

The Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the present administration to resolve the challenges bedeviling salary administration in the state’s civil service. 

Speaking while declaring open, a two-day workshop at Zaranda Hotel for commissioners, special advisers, and permanent secretaries on the use of Pay Solutions software for salary administration, Hon Auwal Jatau said that ghost workers and other irregularities in the salary administration were major issue in previous administrations, leading to a wide range of issues such as corruption and lack of motivation among civil servants, among other issues.

The deputy governor recalled that since coming on board in 2019, the present administration has been working tirelessly to improve the living conditions of people through execution of people’s oriented policies and programmes, which cuts across all critical sectors of the state’s economy.

He said that the welfare of the civil servants is among the top priorities of the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed in recognition of the important roles they play in the delivery of good services to the citizens.

He also emhasised the importance of accuracy in the payment of salary and allowances could not be overemphasised.

He said: “There is no gainsaying the fact that the smooth administration of salary is crucial to the successful functioning of any government. The use of modern technology, such as Pay Solutions software, has revolutionised the way we manage our finances, increasing efficiency, and reducing errors in salary administration. I, therefore, commend the offices of the Head of Service and the accountant general for organising this workshop, which is aimed at improving our capacity in this vital area.

“As honorable commissioners, special advisers and permanent secretaries, you are all aware of the lingering challenges that we have inherited on salary administration in our dear state.

“However, the state government, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has been working tirelessly to provide solutions to the challenges.

“Today’s workshop, which is focused on the use of Pay Solutions software, is part of our collective efforts to address the challenges we are being confronted within salary administration once and for all.”

He said that there is the need to sanitise the nominal roll and payroll to get rid of ghost workers so as to make room for the government to recruit the teeming unemployed youths, implement promotions and other incentives in the system, thereby improving the human resources in the state civil service and assured that the government is committed to ensuring a transparent and fair salary administration.

“I want to reiterate here that His Excellency, the Governor, is always worried about the challenges being experienced in the salary administration. The government will not hesitate to deal decisively with whoever is found sabotaging the government in that regard.”

Auwal Jatau therefore directed the commissioners, special advisers and the permanent secretaries as key stakeholders in the salary administration to make good use of the workshop to acquire the knowledge and necessary skills needed to effectively use the Pay Solutions software in order for them to immediately take over the nominal roll and payroll of their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies as a way of blocking leakages.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed Kashim, urged the participants to roll out modalities of assisting the state government to end fraudulent activities in the system as key players in the salary administration.

Also, the Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Yahuza Adamu Haruna, in his welcome address, said that the conduct of the workshop is part of the state government’s unwavering commitment to sanitize the salary administration for a credible and sustainable payroll system in the state.