TheCable

The Kaduna state government says it has established “public service on wheels” as part of efforts to bring the government closer to the people.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by Muyiwa Adeleke, special adviser on media and communication to the governor, agencies will visit neighbourhoods and business premises to deliver public services.

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, in the statement, explained that the initiative is in response to the realities created by the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it is also in line with government’s priority of putting the people first.

“Government agencies will be helping citizens to enjoy services like systematic registration of property titles, enrolling for residents registration and complying with statutory obligations,’’ the statement read.

“Public Service on Wheels is a Kaduna State Government programme which is aimed at bringing services directly to the doorsteps of citizens and businesses.

‘’It is designed to help citizens and households to interface with combined teams of officials from several agencies that can assist them with residency registration, building plan approval, regularising their land and property titles, obtaining tax identification numbers and updating their business premises registration.

“Public Service on Wheels is designed as an initiative that specifically responds to the situation created by Covid-19 by going to the people directly in their homes and neigbourhoods.

“Under this initiative, officials of the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), Kaduna Geographic Information Service(KADGIS), Kaduna Urban Planning and Development Authority(KASUPDA), Kaduna State Water Corporation(KADSWAC) and the Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority(KEPA) will visit neighbourhoods, business premises, hospitals, hotels and restaurants, financial institutions and private schools to offer their services.”

Adeleke, who noted that the initiative would ensure that households are adequately captured for the services of the state water corporation, added that the programme would also address issues of metering.

“Public Service on Wheels programme will also help ascertain whether households, industries and other businesses have access to tap water and if they are properly metered,” he said

“All issues relating to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for ongoing and completed projects can be sorted out with ease through the Public Service on Wheels initiative.”

The government called on residents to cooperate with the public service officials, adding that they would all carry proper identification tags during the exercise.