The Gombe State Government has announced an increase in the salary of district and village heads in the state and the provision of befitting palaces.
Addressing journalists in Gombe, the Gombe State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo Waziri, said the district heads, who were at present receiving salaries on Grade Levels 6 Step 1, had now been moved to Salary Grade Level 12 Step 1, while villages heads, who were now on Grade Level 3 Step 1, had now been moved to Grade Level 8 Step 1.
Alhaji Jalo also announced that the district heads would be receiving monthly impress of 15 thousand naira each, while their houses would be renovated and where no befitting had been provided, a new one would be constructed.
He said consultants had already been sent to fine out the cost of constructing the houses but that work would commence based on the number of districts and villages each local government area had.
According to him, LGAs with small number of districts and villages would be done at once, but those with many will be in phases, with effect from June, 2021.
The commissioner admonished the traditional rulers that the upgrade was a way of encouraging them to continue to support the government of Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in the maintenance of the relative peace and security the state was enjoying.
He said that had become necessary because the traditional rulers monitor the affairs of the state at the grassroots and contribute significantly in the maintenance of peace and security.
“That is why you could see that His Excellency has directed us to inform you that each traditional ruler remains or resides in his dormain, because it will help in a lot of ways to maintain peace and security,” said Alaji Jalo.
Responding on behalf of the district and village heads, the Senior District Head of Gombe, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abubakar, appreciated the kind gesture of Governor Yahaya and encouraged the traditional rulers to ensure that their domain was always secured and protected.
He emphasized the importance of keeping records and reporting same, which would alert the government in taking preventive measures in case of an early warning call.
Gombe State has 165 District Heads and 602 village heads.
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