A lawmaker in the House of Representatives, Hon. Muhammadu? Bello Matawalle and other opposition politicians in Zamfara State have given the state government a two week ultimatum to rescind its decision to sack 15, 000 of its workers or face legal action.
The politicians, who came under a group led by Matawale, known as the Zamfara State? Coalition of Opposition Politicians, described the move as anti-people and even anti-Islam, saying it would? worsen the security problem in the north.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Alhaji Ahmed Leda, yesterday in Abuja, the politicians said the planned mass sack of the civil servants would deprive more than 60, 000 people in the state of their livelihood.
Leda noted that, if implemented, the planned sack will aggravate the? prevailing security challenges facing the North and increase the high level of poverty in the state.
They cautioned the state governor, Abdulazeez Yari, against what they said is “his penchant for championing anti-people policies,” pointing out that the governor was the first among his northern colleagues to support the recent removal of fuel subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan.
“We therefore call on the state governor not to stretch his luck too far by allowing our two weeks ultimatum to lapse,” the opposition group warned.
They advised that rather than retrench the state’s public sector workers, the governor should instead cut down the number of his aides, who, according to them, add no value to the state.
“The cut should be extended to the offices of three first ladies being operated in the state,” they added.