Kaduna State is to pay N29m to staff of three moribund public enterprises. When Kachia Ginger, Ikara Food Processing and Zaria Pharmaceutical Companies went comatose, some of their employees were retained to provide skeletal services and secure the premises. Their unpaid salaries accumulated over upwards of five years. They are now to be paid and formally disengaged as the companies are being prepared for new investors.
A total of 36 workers were screened and verified by a committee set up by the State Executive Council to ascertain their actual employment status, including the period they had served without salaries and allowances. The committee verified 12 workers for Kachia Ginger, 10 for Ikara Foods and 14 for Zaria Pharmaceuticals. At the conclusion of the verification exercise, N29m was approved for the employees of the moribund companies.
Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, told a press briefing that the state government has now taken steps to privatise the three companies. This is expected to revive the companies and reposition them to achieve the purpose of their founding, including economic development, job creation and revenue generation.