The Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya (Walin Sokoto), has reaffirmed his commitment to restoring the dignity, efficiency, and professionalism of the Sokoto State Civil Service if elected Governor in the 2027 general elections.
Hon. Dan’iya made the pledge while receiving a delegation of civil servants comprising administrative officers, finance officers, and local government personnel who paid him a Sallah homage and expressed support for his gubernatorial aspiration.
Speaking during the visit, the ADC candidate emphasized the critical role of the civil service in governance, policy implementation, and service delivery, noting that no government can achieve sustainable development without a motivated, productive, and professional workforce.
According to him, “A strong civil service is the engine room of government. When civil servants are treated fairly, motivated appropriately, and allowed to discharge their responsibilities without discrimination, governance becomes more efficient and development becomes more visible.”
Hon. Dan’iya expressed concern over reports that some civil servants and local government employees have faced career setbacks allegedly linked to their service under previous administrations. He stressed that public service should be guided by professionalism, competence, and the rule of law rather than political considerations.
“Government is a continuum. Civil servants are servants of the state and not of any political party. Any administration that seeks sustainable development must build an environment where professionalism, experience, and competence are respected and rewarded,” he stated.
The ADC gubernatorial candidate further argued that government attention should be focused on addressing the socio-economic challenges confronting the people of Sokoto State, particularly poverty, unemployment, access to quality education, healthcare, and rural development.
He referenced findings from the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (NMPI), developed by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, which identified Sokoto State among the states with the highest levels of multidimensional poverty in the country in First Position with 90.5% followed by Bayelsa State 88.5% and Gombe State 86.2%.
Hon. Dan’iya noted that multidimensional poverty goes beyond income and includes deprivation in critical areas such as education, health, nutrition, housing, electricity, sanitation, access to clean water, and overall living standards.
“Any government confronted with such realities must channel its energy towards lifting people out of poverty, expanding opportunities, and improving the quality of life of citizens. Our priority must be to create hope, restore confidence, and provide solutions that directly impact the lives of ordinary people,” he said.
The ADC candidate assured civil servants that his administration would prioritize institutional reforms, capacity building, workforce development, prompt payment of entitlements, and policies designed to enhance efficiency and professionalism across the public sector.
He further pledged to create a civil service that is technology-driven, merit-based, and capable of competing favourably with the best public service institutions across Nigeria.
Earlier, speaking on behalf of the delegation, a senior civil servant, Malam Muhammad Gumbi, congratulated Hon. Dan’iya on the successful Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and expressed appreciation for his consistent engagement with public servants across the state.
He stated that the delegation was also at the candidate’s residence to reaffirm its support for the ADC and its vision for a more inclusive, accountable, and development-oriented government in Sokoto State.
Malam Gumbi expressed confidence in Hon. Dan’iya’s capacity to implement reforms that would strengthen the civil service and improve governance outcomes across the state.
The visit was witnessed by ADC State Chairman Hon. Abdullahi Maigwandu and some of the State Exco.
