The Jigawa State Ministry for Local Government and Community Development has offered free hernia surgery to no fewer than 810 vulnerable residents.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Mr Ahmad Maikudi, disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse, after receiving award from the state’s chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees, in Dutse.
Maikudu said 30 patients from each of the 27 Local Government Areas of the state benefited from the exercise.
He explained that the exercise, which was a pilot one, would be made a quarterly event in order to treat more people, especially the vulnerable.
“Initially, we planned to sponsor 30 hernia patients, but we ended up getting 900 across the state.
“This is why we are deciding to make it a quarterly event or every two months so as to reach more poor and vulnerable people for free treatment,” Maikudi said.
Earlier, the NULGE Chairman, Mr Abubakar Garba, said the commissioner was given the award for good performance in the last one year.
Garba added that the gesture was to appreciate the commissioner for his effort in ensuring prompt and steady payment of salaries, allowances and other benefits supposed to be enjoyed by local government employees.
“That is why we deemed it necessary to reward hard and good work with appreciation like this award and we are thankful and full of joy,” Garba said.
Responding, Maikudi urged all local government employees in the state to always resist any temptation for wrongdoings in their respective places of duty.
The commissioner also urged them to always report any political office holder that may ask them to do anything that was illegal so that prompt and proper action would be taken against such person.
” Henceforth and as long as I remain the commissioner, anything that is going to be enjoyed by members will be on merit and hierarchy, including promotion without any favourism or preferential treatment,” the commissioner assured.
He also promised that the ministry will soon facilitate the process for all members of the union to enjoy car loans like their counterpart in the state civil service in order to encourage hard and effective service delivery at the grassroots.
NAN