The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasiru El-Rufai, on Friday cancelled the annual Ramadan “welfare” package distributed to Muslims in the state.
Past administrations distributed rice, millet, vegetable oil, milk, sugar and other commodities to Muslims; and also hosted religious groups to Ramadan breakfast.
Governor El-Rufai said his government could not continue sharing state resources.
‎He said if his government continues in that direction, it will only be able to pay salaries.
Speaking when he received the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Jama’atul Nasril Islam Friday at the Government House, Kaduna, Mr. El-Rufai said if his government continues to fund the welfare package, it will barely be able to deliver on key mandates of his government, considering the state’s finances.
“This beautiful office complex we are in cost the government about N10billion. Me and my partner, the Deputy Governor would not have built this when there are many masses oriented projects yet to be executed, but it has been built, we have to use.
“I have also been made to understand that, this Ramadan period, we are supposed to have started sharing rice, milk and sugar, but we will not do that.‎ One, the government is not supposed to be involved in religious activities. Two, the government is broke.
“So, we solicit for your prayers to be able to stabilize the situation and we hope that things will improve,” he said.
Responding to the earlier call for the return of missionary schools to the churches, Mr. El-Rufai said, the government cannot return the schools and continue funding them.
While promising to set up a committee ‎to look into the matter, the Governor pointed out that ownership is not what matters, but quality education and equal opportunity to every child.
Earlier, the JNI delegation led by Ibrahim Kufena offered a special prayer for the success of Mr. El-Rufai’s administration and assured the government of ‎JNI’s readiness to assist government in maintenance of peace at all times.



Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/185383-el-rufai-breaks-with-tradition-cancels-ramadan-welfare-package.html

The whole nation is broke, probably that means no Christmas and New year bonus (Rice/Chicken/ororo).

Baba needs to sell those jets I swear.

This is the change we need. This is commendable.
Other governors can and should learn from this. El Rufai is setting good pace.

Even as a Muslim...I still support it

K

This man need to tread softly

El-rufai for president 2019...

Changee dole

A better change.

Bu everyone expected him to do. A journalist in Sir Kashim Ibrahim House (Kaduna Govt House) told me that many of such 'welfare' packages would stop.

Brief people are so daring and bold. When they talk, they don't mince words. Very soon, the fanatics would nickname him John or Joseph, the same way they nicknamed Mohammed Makarfi for not supporting some of their biddings.

This is indeed a step in the right direction.

Just did a quick background check on him. Havard alumni... make sense now. This guy is definitely among the most intelligent governors in Nigeria.

Except for his shady FCT past;am beginning to like this El-Rufai. He is taking hard but necessary decisions and seems to be up and running. Something tells me the man would go places. Wish him the best and hope he doesnt lose steam.

I'm beginning to like this man

Good move

Great initiative,he must stop sponsoring people on pilgrimage to holy lands too.

Thank you for this good move,
Cancel government sponsoring of pilgrimage also. It might make the race tough for you in case, you want to re-contest 2019. Your people don't like this style.

Whereas in Bauchi state the government has passed a law that all private schools must go on 5-week break till the fasting is over. Some are solving problems while others are multiplying them. Deliver us from evil and evil men dear Lord.

I already counted kaduna state as the most lucky state going forward(say 2015-2019) from the day they elected nasir elrufai as their governor and having PMB as the president of this nation. Time will tell

Commendable, el-rufia is the man.

This what visionary and serious leadership is about!I don't see why Fashola and this guy won't make a great pair for the presidency soon enough!

No1 governor so far.

Fashola did same thing in Lagos. So, this is no news...next