The twin-event of the disbursement of N3 billion vehicle loans to civil servants, mostly teachers in Kwara State and the official commissioning of the ultra-modern press centre of the state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), will no doubt, go a long way in making life more comfortable for the Teachers and Journalists in the state.

The Kwara State governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed who performed the two programmes on September 23, 2013, will go down in history as one governor that prioritised the welfare of the teachers and media practitioners.

Under the vehicle loan scheme, a total of 5,000 civil servants, comprising of 2,323 Secondary school teachers, 2,028 primary school teachers and 804 core civil servants benefited. This figure was an addition to 1,603 civil servants that had earlier benefited from the first phase N1 billion vehicle loan.

In the words of the state’s Head of Service, Alh. Dabarako Mohammed, the disbursement of the vehicle loan has erased the impression that teachers’ reward is in heaven.

In the same vein, the commissioning of the over N68 million NUJ press centre, christened “Olusola Saraki Pen House” will migrate the union from a beggarly union to a buoyant and self sustaining union, if the facilities provided there are prudently managed.

Giving his record of performance as the chairman of the Herald Chapel of the NUJ, many have expressed optimism that the young, energetic and highly resourceful NUJ state chairman, Mallam Abiodun AbdulKareem will not be found wanting in the prudent management of the facilities at the centre.

The edifice which is located at Offa Road Extension, GRA, Ilorin boasts of a 12-bedroom chalet, a spacious conference hall, office accommodation and expansive environment. All this facility will serve as revenue generation sources for the union.

Little wonder, the national president of NUJ, Mallam Garba Mohammed described the new NUJ centre as the “best NUJ’s edifice in the country, so far”. Mohammed was represented at the ceremony by the national Vice-President, Zone D, Matthias Omale.

He thanked governor Ahmed for his interest in the wellbeing of journalists in the state, which he said was evident in his releasing N1.68 million as insurance premium for working journalists in the state, the donation of an 18-seater hummer bus and working tools, as well as the government’s donation of N1 mllion during the recent NUJ press week and the construction of a new press centre.

Making the presentation of the car loan to beneficiaries at the Banquet Hall in Ilorin, Governor Ahmed said the loan was “another opportunity to demonstrate this administration’s long-standing commitment to improving the welfare of civil servants across the state, including secondary and primary school teachers”.

He noted that civil servants are the foot soldiers of good governance and those who work silently to ensure that government’s vision for the uncommon development of Kwara State comes to fruition on an effective and efficient basis.

Being an impact-focused administration, Ahmed continued,  “we accord the welfare of civil servants the highest priority as demonstrated by the prompt payment of salaries and especially by today’s flag-off of N3 billion in vehicle loans to qualifying civil servants”.

Realising the crucial roles of civil servants, the governor emphasised, “this government approved the renovation of offices in Ministries of Health, Commerce and the Local Government Service Commission. Also put in place are welfare policies and programmes such as training and retraining of staff for better performance, employment opportunities for the teaming youths of the state through KWABES, approval of the sale of government quarters to sitting civil servants and the recent negotiation with Estate Developers to provide houses at affordable rate to workers in the state.

Earlier in his remark, Kwara State Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Muhammed praised the NUJ members for waiting patiently for the completion of the centre and assured them that the state government would not relent in its efforts at creating conducive atmosphere for them to operate.

At the commissioning of the NUJ press centre, Ahmed described free press as an indispensable ally of representative democracy.

He said the role of a responsive journalism in the entrenchment of good governance and stability of democratic rule could not be over-emphasized.

Saying that the commissioning of the centre which foundation was laid on September 6, 2011, was a promise fulfilled, the governor added, “we appreciate the role of the media. As a responsive government, we are aware of our responsibilities to all trade unions.”

He urged the leadership of the union in the state to ensure a judicious utilisation of the facilities at the centre.