The Niger State Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mu’azu Hamidu-Jantabo, has assured agencies under the ministry of his determination to address issues confronting them with priority, especially staff welfare.

The commissioner gave the assurance during a familiarisation tour to Niger state environmental protection agency, Labour House, local government auditor general’s office, SUBEB and local government service commission on Sunday in Minna.

He said the visit was aimed at enhancing relationship between the agencies and the ministry.

Mr Hamidu-Jantabo reassured that identified challenges would be addressed as quickly as possible, but warned that the era of remitting funds to agencies without positive impact was over as the ministry would ensure constant supervision of activities of every agency under its watch.

According to him, “The essence of the visit is to identify agencies or institutions that are strategic to our operations, to further cement the already existing relationships.

“I’ve been a council chairman for four years and I know areas where to experience conflicts, so we want to avoid that this time around,” he stated.

Permanent secretary of the ministry, Abubakar Aliyu, also assured the management of the agencies and institutions visited that the ministry would not relent untill identified issues were nipped in the bud.

He commended them for maintaining cordial working relationship over the years.

Also, the permanent secretary, Niger State local government service commission, Tanimu Yakubu, sought for a symbiotic relationship for optimum results.

He informed the new commissioner of the enormous challenges facing the commission, hence the need for his support to resolved them.

The chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Idris Lafene, identified some of the challenges of the labour union to include consequential adjustment of minimum wage, non payment of salary arrears and ineffective promotion for civil servants.

The director, statutory and special operations, Lawal Adamu, who received the commissioner on behalf of the local government auditor general, Ibrahim Ahmed, applauded the commissioner for the visit.

He expressed the hope that appointment of the Commissioner would mark the begining of a new dawn to the agencies, owing to his knowledge of some of their challenges.

Acting general manager, NISEPA, Halima Ndayako, appealed to the Ministry to assist in the purchase of equipment as some of the existing ones in the agency were outdated.

The acting executive chairman of Niger State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), Fatima Jella-Suleiman, commended the commissioner and assured of the board’s full support in achieving the desired objectives of the presentgovernment in the state.

(NAN)