By Adebayo Olodan and Bukola Adama
Just a week after the first female Head of Service (HoS), in the state, Hajia Zahra Omar, bowed out, the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has assured that her successor would be chosen from the Kwara North Senatorial District.
Recall that this medium recently reported that the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Liaison Office, Abuja, Alhaji Abubakar Isiaq and his counterpart in the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Alhaji Jibril Baba Haruna (JAB) were among those shortlisted as likely successors to Omar.
Speaking during Sallah homage paid on him by traditional rulers from Kwara North Senatorial District at Government House, Ilorin, yesterday, Ahmed maintained that the present administration is committed to even distribution of positions.
According to him, the government will ensure that all sections of the state were duly represented in appointments of key government functionaries and distribution of social amenities and infrastructural facilities.
He said since the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold is from Kwara Central and the Head of Civil Service in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Adelodun from Kwara South, for fairness and equity, the position of the HoS will be ceded to the Kwara North Senatorial District.
The governor however called on traditional rulers in the state to be part of advocate for local government councils in the state to look beyond federal allocation to meet their statutory responsibilities.
“The federal government has shown the lead in diversification of the nation’s economy by encouraging investment in agriculture. Every other arm of government should follow this laudable initiative of the government”, the governor said, adding that the state would continue to give support to agriculture as another source of revenue generation.
“Agriculture is a major critical sector for the diversification of the economy, which is receiving the needed attention of the federal government. The state will also continue to partner in providing infrastructure to support agric-business in the state”, he said.
Speaking further, Ahmed assured that work will soon commence at the Kwara State University campus in Ilesha-Baruba.
“Kwara State University, Ilesha Baruba campus contractors will resume work very soon”, the governor assured the traditional rulers.
Additionally, he said the state is set to access $60 million from the World Bank for rural roads across the state.
Governor Ahmed said the fund would be specifically utilised to deploy infrastructure to agrarian communities to ease movement of agricultural produce with a view to improving the state economy.
He also disclosed that Federal Executive Council has approved the rehabilitation of Share-Patigi road, adding that Ilorin-old Jebba road was currently under-going rehabilitation while Tsaragi-Shonga road was in the front burner.
The Governor, who applauded President Muhammad Buhari for making the state feel federal presence, also appealed to the federal government to make funds available for completion of the on-going rehabilitation of federal roads in the state, especially Kaiama-Kishi road.
Earlier, Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar, who led the delegation, appreciated the Governor for his continuous support for the people of Kwara North, especially in appointments and provision of infrastructure.
Umar appealed to the Governor to retain the zoning of Head of Service position to Kwara North and assured the governor of the unflinching support of his people.
Recall that Omar officially bowed out of service on Friday September 1 after attainting the mandatory 35 years of active service.
Hajia Omar was appointed as Kwara Head of Service in May 29, 2015 after she had served as permanent secretary in the ministries of Environment and Forestry and Office of the Head of Service in 2011.
She was a member of the verification committee on primary school staff of the local governments in Kwara state and committee of the draft White Paper of the report of staff Audit physical Verification and Biometric Screening of staff of all the sixteen (16) local government areas in Kwara State.
