By Silas Shentukwak Boi
Stakeholders in the WASH sector have warned against nepotism and tribalism in the recruitment of staff that will man the newly established local government WASH directorate in Bauchi State.
This warning was echoed by local councils and traditional leaders during a sensitization undertaken by the committee on the establishment of WASH directorate in all the 20-LGAs of Bauchi State.
Speaking on behalf of traditional leaders, the district head of Lere in Tafawa-Balewa LGA, Alhaji Suleiman Bawa implored the local government service commission to closely monitor staff posting, deployment and transfer to checkmate council officials from employing only their family and friends as this might negate the principles of fairness.
Alhaji Suleiman Bawa also tasked the committee to ensure that existing staff of the council were given consideration and not marginalized, assuring that traditional leaders would also mobilize the new directorate by encouraging the formation of WASHCOMS to achieve the goal of ending open defecation.
During a similar visit to Bauchi local government secretariat, the director of PHC of the council, Alhaji Suleiman Abdu Kirfi urged the local government service commission to review the already approved budget for 2025 service year to accommodate the financial need of the new WASH directorate in order to avert any administrative challenges.
While at Kirfi, the deputy chairman of Kirfi local council, Alhaji Mohammed Bashar Bara requested that supervisory councilors that will be assigned the new WASH directorate should be the deputy chairmen of the local governments considering the relevance of WASH to the rapid transformation of the local communities.
The committee was set up by Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration to speed-up the establishment of WASH directorate has concluded its sensitization to Dass, Tafawa-Balewa, Bogoro, Kirfi, Alkaleri, Bauchi, Misau, Darazo and Toro LGAs.