The Kaduna State House of Assembly is considering a bill seeking to restore the Local Government Service Commission to replace the existing Local Government Service Board, a move its sponsor says will strengthen the local government civil service and prevent political interference in staff administration.
The bill was sponsored by the member representing Magajin Gari Constituency in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Hon. Shehu Abubakar, during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the plenary, Abubakar, a former Deputy Majority Leader, said the bill seeks to restore the institution to its former status as a Commission to ensure greater administrative independence.
He said Kaduna was the only state in the federation operating a Local Government Service Board, while the other 35 states had Local Government Service Commissions.
According to him, there was no justification for the previous administration to change the institution from a Commission to a Board.
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Abubakar explained that the Board operates under the Ministry of Local Government, a structure he said exposes the local government civil service to unnecessary political interference.
He maintained that the Commission should operate independently, with its responsibilities focused primarily on personnel matters within the local government system.
On how the proposed legislation would improve local government administration, he said the effectiveness of the third tier of government depended largely on the motivation and welfare of its workforce.
The bill was subsequently referred to the Joint Committees on Local Government and Judiciary for further legislative consideration.
Meanwhile, three separate bills seeking to establish schools of nursing and midwifery in Kafanchan, Pambegua and Tudun-wada scaled first reading during the plenary.
