I welcome you all with humility and
gratitude to the very first Town Hall
meeting we are hosting as a government.
It is not yet one month since we were
sworn-in, but to the extent that it has
pleased Allah to bestow His grace upon
us, we have set about doing the work of
change that you mandated us to do.
During the campaign, we promised that
we shall be engaging and interacting with
the public regularly. We pledged that we
will provide you regular updates and
listen to your feedback, including
criticisms and suggestions. Here we are
before you today to do as we pledged. As
we have started, so we intend to
continue, always striving to get better at
achieving results.
Immediately after we were sworn-in on
29 May 2015, we reported for duty with
the sense of urgency that you demanded.
As we expected, we met a state that is
broke, and whose schools, hospitals and
roads are in poor shape. We knew that a
lot of sacrifice will be required to restore
the state to good health. This
government’s priority is actually growth
and development in a safe and secure
environment; because we understand
that the things that matter are the public
goods of quality schools, decent hospitals
and good roads; we know that leaders
must pursue the creation of a climate
that promotes security, social harmony
and is therefore conducive to bringing
jobs and economic opportunity. Thus our
first step was to announce that the
deputy-governor and I will be taking a
50% pay cut.
As we took briefings from the ministries,
departments and agencies in our very
first week, the depth of the financial
problem became clearer to us as well as
the impact the decades of impunity have
had on the mental attitudes of the
institutions that constitute the public
service. As one astute observer of the
situation commented recently, the public
service does not serve the public; rather
it considers itself as the public and thus
serves only itself.
We emphatically reject this mentality.
The new government of Kaduna State has
therefore declared that the resources of
the state will be devoted to serving the
public, with schools, hospitals and roads;
aiding our farmers and doing our utmost
to create jobs. To do that, we must cut
the cost of running government. Ours
will no longer be the state that has too
little left for the needs of the majority of
the people.
That is our guiding principle as we
reduce costs. And we have taken concrete
action in this regard. We have
restructured our ministries from 19 to 13.
We have also decided that we will have
only 13 commissioners, ten special
advisers and 12 special assistants. You all
remember that the previous government
had 24 commissioners, 41 special advisers
and about 400 special assistants. But good
governance is not about recruiting vast
numbers of political appointees. It is
about the smallest number that can
provide the quality of service that is
required.
We are saddened by the condition in
which we found the state. But we shall
never use that as an excuse for non-
performance. It is our duty to do our best
always. That is why we are finding
creative even if difficult ways to deliver
on our promises.
What we have done
In our first month, we have done the
following things:
Governance Reforms
Prioritising the People: We have made
clear our intention to devote a larger
chunk of the state’s resources to
providing public services. We have
signalled that a government elected by
majority vote should serve the majority.
Pay cut: the governor and the deputy
governor have taken a voluntary pay cut
of 50%, and we have urged other political
official holders, elected or appointed, to
follow this example.
Cost-cutting: ministries have been
reduced from 19 to 13; while your
government has committed to appointing
only 13 commissioners and the handful of
needed special advisers and special
assistants. The selection of the
Commissioners, Advisers and Assistants
will be based on merit, capacity and
experience because what is priority to us
is getting the necessary skill sets that will
facilitate moving the State forward.
Biometric verification: Our government is
already conducting biometric verification
of its employees in order to update the
payroll and provide reliable data as to the
precise number of personnel in the
public service. Two of Nigeria’s leading
banks, UBA and Zenith, are working with
us on this project.
Tax Reform Committee: We have set up a
committee chaired by Ifueko Omogui,
former chairman of the Federal Inland
Revenue Service, to review our internal
revenue generation structures, systems
and laws. The committee will recommend
ways by which we can improve our
internally generated revenue. This will
reduce our dependency on the federal
government. We will be masters of our
own fate.
Transparency: We have signed up to
Open Budget, a tool that enables you to
track what we are doing with your
money.
Health
Your government has already convened a
summit of Kaduna State Healthcare
partners to set out the state’s priorities in
the Health Sector, and to also ensure that
all funds in the health sector are
streamlined to ensure an effective
coordinated service delivery. The donor
community and multilateral agencies
attended, along with businesses that are
active in the state’s health sector.
Kaduna State has signed an
Memorandum of Understanding with
General Electric Healthcare to modernise
our primary health centers and public
hospitals. Both parties have committed to
identifying the specific needs of the
centers and hospitals, so that modern
equipment can be installed to improve
the diagnosis and management of
patients.
We have signed the 2015 Kaduna State-
UNICEF 2015 workplan. The state
government is ready with its counterpart
funding for the agreed initiatives in
healthcare, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, water,
sanitation and child protection.
Installation of two dialysis machines and
the repair of three dialysis equipment at
Barau Dikko Hospital. Arrangements are
being made to purchase consumables for
the next 12 months so that dialysis will
be affordable to Kaduna citizens.
Security
Peace Committee: A committee, chaired
by the respected General Martin Agwai, is
working to identify the causes of conflict
and insecurity in Southern Kaduna and
thereafter recommend ways of tackling
the problem.
Interstate cooperation: Kaduna State is
working with Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi and
Niger States to design a collective
approach to common security challenges
in the forest ranges that strides our
respective States. A meeting is being held
today with the respective State Governors
and Security Agencies to advance the
implementation of this initiative.
Presidential support: Kaduna State has
briefed and updated the president on the
security challenges, and the president has
pledged FG support for the
comprehensive security plan.
Relief: We have conducted multiple aerial
surveys of the Birnin-Gwari area and
have visited affected communities there
and in Southern Kaduna, offering medical
assistance and condolences.
Prisons: we have visited prisons in
Kaduna and Zaria, pursuing rehabilitation
of facilities and decongestion. As a result
of these efforts, 98 persons awaiting trial
for minor offenses were released by the
Chief Judge of Kaduna State.
Infrastructure
Zaria Water Project: We have ordered
accelerated work to complete this project
as a priority item for our government. We
have visited the site of the project and
reviewed it with the contractors. A firm
decision has been taken to commit funds
monthly so that the project can be
completed by early 2018.
The African Development Bank and
Islamic Development Bank, the major
funders of the project, have been
consulted and they share our desire to
speed-up completion. In addition, we are
working on a project to upgrade the
capacity to supply water to Kaduna
residents through a new Kaduna Water
Project.
Job creation
Kaduna Cabs: We have initiated a scheme
to revive taxi services in our major urban
centres. The aim is to create jobs for
owner-drivers who will help improve the
commuting experience with their
comfortable cars and excellent customer
service. The scheme is starting with 200
vehicles in Kaduna, and is being
implemented in collaboration with
Peugeot. We have already placed adverts
to invite participation in the scheme.
Indorama: Our drive to attract new
investors to the state has attracted
positive response from Indorama, a
leading player in petrochemicals. They
have selected Kaduna as their regional
distribution centre. They will be building
warehouses, fertilizer blending plant and
a training centre in Kaduna.
Shopping Mall: Our main urban centres,
including the state capital Kaduna, are
lacking modern shopping malls. We have
indicated our readiness to partner with
capable investors in this sector.
Agriculture
Fertilizer: One of our first actions in
office was to stop the unfair practice of
allocating subsidized fertilizer to
prominent persons to the detriment of
ordinary farmers. We launched the 2015
fertilizer sales season in Kachia with a
clear structure that sells fertilizers to
interested persons from designated sales
point. We shall be reviewing and
improving the process of procuring and
distributing fertilizer to make access
easier for the farmers.
A New Agricultural Policy is being
prepared with the aim of enhancing the
capacity of the sector to create viable
jobs; improve farm productivity and raise
the involvement of Kaduna citizens in the
value chain.
Sanitation
Clean city agenda: We have met the
sanitation contractors and have expressed
to them our dissatisfaction at the squalid
state of our urban areas. We want our
towns and cities to be clean, and we shall
do it.
Sports
Kaduna has, for the first time in a long
while, hosted an international football
match when the Super Eagles played a
friendly match with Chad at the Ahmadu
Bello Stadium. Our people turned out to
see the game, showing that Kaduna is a
sports city. That impressive turnout has
now placed us on the radar to host many
competitive matches because the football
authorities now know that our great
people will actually come to the stadium,
fill it up and cheer the players.
What we intend to do
In the following months, we shall be
focused on the following issues:
Education : we shall begin implementing
our comprehensive agenda to improve
education. School repairs, and the
provision of facilities like furniture,
water and toilets will begin as we fulfill
our responsibility to provide a better
learning environment. Alongside this, we
shall begin to enhance the capacity and
quality of the teachers generally, and we
shall pay extra attention to getting more
and better teachers in English, Maths and
Science.
Health : hospital upgrades, in terms of
facilities and equipment, will be
accelerated as our MoU with GE
Healthcare is steadily implemented. We
have a commitment to properly
equipping our hospitals so that most of
our people’s healthcare needs can be met
by our own public hospitals.
Township Roads: neighborhood and
township roads in our major urban
centres will be upgraded to the extent we
can within this rainy season.
Transport: our multilayer transport
architecture will be executed. That
includes preparations, studies and
projects to put in place:
– the new cab scheme and expanding to
Zaria and Kafanchan,
– a BRT system for mass transit starting
with Kaduna,
– a major project to establish Kaduna-
Zaria light rail system between Shika and
through the Kaduna Metropolis and up to
the Refinery,
– new bus and truck terminals in Kaduna,
Tafa, Mararaban Jos and Zaria
Security
Comprehensive security plan for
Southern Kaduna and the Birnin-Gwari/
Giwa axis
Forensic laboratory under the control of
our State Internal Security outfit –
Operation Yaki – to enhance the
investigative capacity of law-enforcement
agencies
Clean Cities : We would not allow our
urban centres to continue to be defaced
by waste. We shall be improving waste
collection, then we would introduce
sanitary inspectors and engage the public
in a voluntary commitment to make our
cities clean.
Rural and community development:
Under the leadership of our Deputy
Governor, we shall be mainstreaming the
Millennium Village Pampaida programme
as a viable model across our rural
communities. It will have components to
improve education, healthcare, rural
roads and the farming activities that
engage most of our rural residents.
Job Creation : your government will
undertake direct recruitment of qualified
doctors, nurses and teachers to urgently
raise the quality of service in our
hospitals and schools. We shall also
employ at least 50 youths per ward over
the next four years, in our initial efforts
for traffic control and environmental
enforcement. But try as it might,
government can only employ a minority
of youths who need jobs. Thus we remain
focused on creating a favourable climate
for the private sector to create jobs.
Textile Revival : We have the support of
Mr. President to work on policies and
schemes that will revive this sector as
viable and sustainable employer of
labour. We are cooperating with current
and potential textile investors on a
package that stimulates the value-chain
from cotton farming to garmenting.
There is so much to do, with fewer
resources. But we have no option than to
deliver quality performance for the
people who have invested so much hope
in us. We need your understanding and
support for the difficult decisions that we
must take if we are to serve you to the
best of our ability. We will need
committed people in and out of
government to contribute to achieving
the goals we have set out.
We are not shrinking government for its
own sake. We are making government
leaner so that it can work better for you.
Let us all make sacrifices for change.
Above is the Keynote address by Nasir El-
Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, at the
first Town Hall meeting of the APC Kaduna
State Government, at the Hassan Katsina
House, Kawo, Kaduna, on Saturday, 27 June
2015

O boi with d way rusau is going, he ll be d governor to beat tell u. I am 1000 percent sure I no go regret voting for mallam rusau.

Long live el rufai
Long live kaduna stte
Long live Niger state
And long live nigeria