The Kaduna State Government has distributed 7,000 motorcycles, including 4,000 electric bikes, to civil servants across the state.
The initiative, launched by Governor Uba Sani, is the first of its kind in Nigeria and aims to ease the financial burden of transportation costs on civil servants.
“We recognise that transportation costs can be a significant burden for civil servants. It is our hope that these motorcycles will help alleviate that burden, allowing you to arrive at work early and focus on your tasks,” Sani said during the flag-off ceremony in Kaduna on Friday.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, reiterated the government’s commitment to improving working conditions for civil servants, including enhancing workplace infrastructure.
“The civil service is the engine of government. Civil servants play a critical role in shaping governance and ensuring the efficient delivery of essential services. Our administration recognises that large-scale rural and urban transformations, as well as economic revitalisation, are only possible with a dedicated, skilled, and well-motivated workforce,” he added.
The motorcycles are being provided through a salary-deductible loan scheme in collaboration with the Nigerian Labour Congress, Paynacle Digital Services Limited, and Optimus Bank.
The Kaduna State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Magaji, praised Governor Sani for his commitment to workers’ welfare.
“We commend Governor Uba Sani for guaranteeing the financial cover necessary to make this initiative a reality. By ensuring that these motorcycles are accessible to qualified civil servants through salary-deductible loans, Your Excellency has once again demonstrated a deep commitment to the welfare of workers,” he said.
The Acting State Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Hassan Ibrahim, announced that the union had purchased 1,000 electric tricycles for its members, payable over two years.
“We appeal to the Kaduna State Government to contribute its own quota so that this initiative can be sustained,” Ibrahim said.
The distribution of motorcycles marks a significant step towards improving the lives of civil servants in Kaduna State. By providing affordable transportation options, the government is helping to ease workers’ financial burdens and enhance their overall well-being.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Sarah Musa, a civil servant with the Kaduna State Ministry of Education, expressed her gratitude for the initiative.
“This motorcycle will really help me. I used to spend a lot of money on transportation, but now I can use that money for other important things,” she said.
(Punch)
