From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
Graveyard Security guards in Katsina Local Government Area of Katsina State have complained over meager amount being paid to them as monthly allowance.
They said only N2, 000 was given to them at the end of every month by the local government council.
One of the security guards of Dantakum Graveyard, Aliyu Sabuwar Kofa told newsmen that he spent over 20 years collecting N2, 000 as his monthly allowance.
“I was employed as casual, collecting N1, 000 as allowance and later reviewed upward to N2, 000,” he stated. Sabuwar Kofa said his colleagues were receiving the same amount, adding that the local government was not ready to increase the allowance.
“It is unfortunate that the local government is not giving most attention to the welfare of graveyard security guards despite their importance,” said he.
Reacting on the complaint, the secretary of the Committee on Graveyard of the local government, Malam Rabiu Danmalan, said the complaint was baseless. Danmalan said his committee had reviewed the allowances of the graveyard security guards to N5, 000 monthly.
“We have recently reviewed upward the allowances to N5, 000 to only security guards ready to work for the night hours. “We don’t need them during day hours.
Their presence during night hours is more important to protect the graveyards. “We will soon commence the payment of the reviewed allowance after we screen all the security guards ready to work with the committee,” Danmalan said.
He further said to commence payment of the reviewed allowance, the committee has contacted wealthy individuals to assist.
“We have raised N700, 000 from wealthy individuals. “The amount will be used to commence payment of the monthly allowance to the security guards Danmalan said the committee also contacted the local government to take care of regular payment of the allowance instead on depending on the assistance from the wealthy individuals.
He assured that the committee was in contact with District Head of Municipal (Magajin Gari) and other individuals to improve welfare of the security guards and protect all the graveyards
