Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has directed all runaway staff on the payroll of the state government, especially medical workers, to return to their posts.
The governor warned that failure to heed his order would not only lead to withholding of their salaries but also termination of appointments.
It would be recalled that in the heat of Boko Haram activities, almost 22 of the 27 local government areas were sacked by insurgents, leading to destruction of lives and property and displacement of 1.5 million people who had taken refuge at Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camps in the North East.
But with the relative peace being witnessed now, reconstruction of houses, schools, hospitals, police stations, courts, local government secretariats, worship places, among others, destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in parts of the state, has advanced, with the first phase of work currently ongoing in different parts of Kaga Local Government Area in the northern part of Borno State as Shettima visited16 project sites.
Shettima, who was impressed with the level of work at the general hospital, Beneshiekh, directed the Ministry of Health and other agencies to ensure that all their staff who had vacated their duty posts in the last one year, but still enjoyed their monthly salaries and allowances, should immediately relocate to their bases or face appropriate sanctions.
“I want to inform all staff of Beneshiekh, which cut across all departments to immediately relocate to their duty posts in the next two weeks or I will not only stop their salaries, but also terminate their appointments,” he warned.
Shettima also undertook assessment visits to review the progress of work in major villages of Auno and Jakana as well as Beneshiek, headquarters of the local government area, all along the Maiduguri- Damaturu highway.
The governor proceeded to assess a primary healthcare centre rebuilt with staff quarters, modernized primary school as well as the residence of the district head of Auno who is expected to play renewed role in mobilizing citizens towards community policing.
He also assessed newly constructed boreholes and a central mosque already completed, before moving to Jakana which is 15 kilometres away from Auno.
At Jakana, Governor Shettima assessed reconstruction of a police station and its staff quarters, a primary school, in addition to giving instruction for the immediate drilling of an additional borehole for the community.
Addressing journalists at some of the project sites, Shettima said his administration decided to start with Kaga local government area in the first phase in order to set the ball rolling and to convince the Federal Government and other support organizations of the commitment of Borno State government to rebuilding the state.
He said Kaga was chosen because of its immediate access to reconstruction workers, noting that Bama, Gwoza and Askira Uba council areas will form the next phases as blocks were already being moulded at sites located in the three local government areas, while other construction equipment were being purchased.
He said: “As you can see, we are using P.O.Ps instead of Brazilian ceilings in all the buildings we have visited be they class rooms, offices, hostels, dining halls and what have you in primary and secondary schools, all the buildings in all hospitals from wards to offices and staff quarters, housing estates and generally, all our buildings.
”We are also using aluminum roofing sheets, instead of zincs, we are using sliding windows that we use in our houses, we are using quality doors, all these are part of the standards we have set to take advantage of the unfortunate destructions and remodel our towns to turn them to model places that will improve the quality of living standards for our people.
“We are completely rebuilding the attacked communities with a remodelling mindset to turn them to cities with modern infrastructure that will stand the test of time, with very functional service delivery in water supply, healthcare delivery, education and other essentials.
“Insha Allah, with the massive support we are awaiting of the Federal Government, Borno will be transformed. President Muhammadu Buhari has shown sufficient commitment to ending this insurgency and he has shown equal commitment to the reconstruction and rehabilitation process and we are so full of appreciation to him and all stakeholders involved in supporting Borno.
“We have had 20 local government areas affected, while Yobe and Adamawa had between two and six each. Borno is the far worst affected and we are sure justice will be accorded Borno and to all states affected.”
