KWARA GOV., AHMED, SWEARS IN NEW PERMANENT SECRETARIES

The Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has sworn in 14 new Permanent Secretaries.

Ahmed charged them as Chief Accounting Officers of their ministries to drive with vigour his administration’s prudent and judicious use of public resources and enhanced Internally Generated Revenue.The Governor, while stressing that such prudence had become expedient in the face of declining revenue to the state from the Federation Account, said: “Today, the realities of the economic challenges are upon us.“In the last 18 months, federation allocation to the state had dwindled consistently.

“Specifically, our monthly allocation has dropped by about 45 per cent and is currently incapable of meeting our recurrent expenditure such as payment of salaries.“And for now, there is no indication that the situation will improve any time soon.“Therefore, this is the time for the government to implement belt-tightening measures.“The economic survival and sustenance of our state is a task that must be achieved with the participation of all citizens.“In this new dispensation, therefore, it is incumbent on you to sufficiently drive your Ministries, Departments and Agencies to generate to the government.”Ahmed also advised the people of the state to embrace the culture of prudence and adjustment to the new economic realities in order to overcome prevailing challenges.

Gov. Ahmed counseled the new permanent secretaries to exhibit required leadership and entrench best practices of due process, accountability and transparency in the discharge of their duties.The governor advised them to shun corruption and other ills that could bring their names into disrepute and discredit the image of the state.He added that the permanent secretaries should not be islands into themselves but embrace the culture of being team players within the setting of the civil service.

Speaking of behalf of the new Permanent Secretaries, Elder David Adeshina pledged that the new appointees will bring their experiences to bear in their duties as the Abdulfatah Ahmed administration deepens the delivery of dividends of democracy.Adesina also pledged that the new Permanent Secretaries, in adding value to the administration, would not bring their unalloyed support and absolute loyalty to it into doubt