• Malam el-Rufai, Kaduna State governor
Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, has expressed concern over the increased number of maternal deaths of over 103,000 annually in the state.
During the presentation of the 2016 Budget to the State House of Assembly yesterday, the Governor lamented that Kaduna State records over 103,000 maternal deaths annually and also loses 95 babies out of every 1000 births, attributing the situation to lack of ante-natal care, medical facilities and inadequate medical personnel.
Governor el-Rufai warned that if drastic interventions are not put in place to save the lives of pregnant women and children, the maternal and infant mortality rate will go higher.
To address the problem, the governor stated all political appointees in his administration will henceforth, take a pay cut in order to save money for the improvement of facilities in the health sector and other developmental projects across the state.
As stated by him, the 2016 appropriation bill, tagged “Budget of Sacrifice, Restoration and Change”, will focus more attention on job creation, improved health care delivery and agricultural revolution.
Presiding over an administration that inherited a pension arrears of over 14 billion Naira, el-Rufai announced plans to cut down the monthly take home pay of pensioners especially those in the senior cadre, while at the same time, increasing those of junior retirees. This he noted will promote equity and fairness in the public service.
He also pointed out that there would be no automatic annual salary increments in 2016, while duty tour allowances and estacode rates have been reduced.