We have cleared KADSWAC N800m salary arrears, says Uba Sani

Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna, says the state government has cleared the N800 million Kaduna State Water Corporation (KADSWAC) staff salary arrears.

Ibrahim Hamza, the commissioner for public works and infrastructure in Kaduna, told journalists that the governor plans to ease the staff’s burden with the intervention.

Hamza added that the employees would remain on the state government’s payroll until 2027 when the corporation is expected to have achieved financial independence as a commercial entity.

The commissioner said Sani declared a state of emergency in the state’s water sector three months ago and appointed Kabir Rufai as managing director to oversee the corporation’s transformation.

He noted that the government plans an investment of N93 billion in KADSWAC over the next four years to revitalise the water supply infrastructure.

“This investment includes N17 billion this year, N35 billion in 2025, N30 billion in 2026, and N11 billion in 2027, emphasising improvements in sanitation, hygiene, and the rehabilitation of water treatment plants and distribution systems,” Hamza said.

“Previous administrations invested $500 million in urban water supply over the last decade with little result.

“Capacity utilisation actually dropped from 43 percent in 2017 to just eight percent in 2023, with only five percent coverage.

“The previous administration’s failure to properly utilise a N17.2 billion refund led to redundancies and the layoff of skilled staff.”

Meanwhile, KADSWAC staff have praised Sani’s commitment to clearing their arrears, describing his actions as “compassionate and responsive.”

One staff member noted that while previous administrations had ignored the issue, “Sani has shown that he has the milk of human kindness in him.”

Hajiya Hadiza, another staff member, said Sani’s rural transformation initiatives and improvements in education and healthcare are proof that he is a “people’s governor.”

“Governor Uba Sani’s policies show he is concerned for workers and the common man,” Hadiza said.