Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima on Wednesday met with Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu with an appeal on the Commandant to employ youths from Borno as replacement for their kinsmen who died working with the NSCDC.
Shettima’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, said in a statement issued in Abuja that the Governor made the call when he paid a visit to the Commandant at the headquarters of the corps in Abuja.
He said Shettima submitted a comprehensive data of about 90 citizens of Borno State who died either through natural causes or got killed in the course of service with the NSCDC.
“Our very dear Commandant, Sir, we have made a compilation of citizens of Borno State who either died due to natural courses and those killed in active service.
“Even though I believe you already have the record, I am nonetheless presenting the data to you respectfully, we generated the data because one of our major problems in
“Borno today has multitude of unemployed and poor masses citizens. In fact, the twin elements of poverty and unemployment contributed so much in giving birth to the Boko Haram insurgency. We are soliciting your assistance to use eligible citizens of Borno to fill the vacancies they have created so long as doing this will not undermine equity and fairness to all parts of the country.
“I believe Federal character principle was used as yardstick in employing those sons and daughters of Borno that died serving the NSCDC, I believe that filling the vacancies they created with eligible youths from Borno regardless their tribes and religion will also be in line with the same Federal character principle. We will not impose anyone but we are calling our kinsmen are considered without compromising your employment criteria. Our situation in Borno is a tough one especially with what you already know as parts of the impacts of the insurgency. Many otherwise enterprising citizens have been turned to beggars after loosing their sources of livelihood, we need your help and it is critical”, Shettima was quoted to have said.
In his response, the NSCDC Commandant General, after receiving the list of deceased citizens of Borno, said the corps already had the data.
He assured Governor Shettima that priority will be accorded to Borno State during a major recruitment exercise that was expected to take place soon.
“I have always said that I admire you so much and your style of governance. I was in Borno State, I have seen the extent of destructions and how the insurgency has affected citizens. I know all the issues in Borno and we will ensure that your State gets what is due to.
“We will give priority to Borno and Yobe States in our next recruitment, this I assure you. Sometimes, I wonder how you still execute projects in Borno with all these challenges. I was amazed with the number of projects I saw in Borno when we visited, I think if one Governor deserves special commendation in Nigeria today, it is Kashim Shettima. You mean well for your people; you deserve everybody’s support”, the NSCDC Commandant General said according to the statement.
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