₦airaland Forum

The Kaduna State Government has earmarked over N4 billion for the Kaduna Metropolitan Rapid Rail Transport project to begin in 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the amount is part of the N24.06 billion provided for projects under the State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport in the 2017 budget.

Governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i had on Wednesday, October 12, presented an appropriation bill of over N215.9 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval.

The estimate for the 2017 fiscal year included N85.5 billion for recurrent expenditure and N130.3 billion for capital projects.

The first phase of the intra-city Kaduna light rail project will link Rigachikun with the refinery.

The government indicated that funds for the rail project would be sourced through a loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“The state government also voted N2, 445,160,730.00 for the ongoing state trunk road project, while township road projects will gulp N7,705,788,694.58 in the fiscal year. ”

According to the breakdown, the government equally earmarked N1.5 billion for the construction and acquisition of new state government administration buildings and N500 million for street lights.

Source: NAN

– Governor el-Rufai has sent a bill to regulate religious preaching to Kaduna state House of Assembly

– The bill seeks punishment for anyone who violates the law

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state is reportedly seeking drastic regulation of religious preaching across the state, Leadership reports.

The governor has sent a bill titled ‘A bill for a law to substitute the Kaduna state religious preaching law, 1984′ to the state House of Assembly to regulate religious preaching across the state.

The bill is also targeted at banning the use of loudspeakers for religious purposes “other than inside a Mosque or Church and the surrounding areas outside the stipulated prayer times.”

Source: Naij.com

om John Shiklam in Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, disclosed on Wednesday that the raw gold deposits in one local government area of the state is more than the entire mineral deposits in the Republic of South Africa.

The governor stated this at the opening of the Kaduna economic and investment forum which held at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Indoor Sports Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna.

According to him, “We have just confirmed that Kaduna state, indeed Birnin Gwari local government alone, has more gold than South Africa. This is proven, this is verifiable; we have all the data and we are collaborating with the federal ministry of solid mineral.”

The governor said solid minerals alone, would attract about N40 billion investment to the state and urged investors to explore the opportunities in the state.

He said the new vision of his administration is to make Kaduna a state programmed for abundant investments , economic opportunities and prosperity.

The governor said further that his government has put all mechanism in place to ensure peace and security , good governance , improved quality of lives, and social inclusion for the people and investors coming to do business .

He said that discussions were going on with a large international mining company to come and explore gold reserves in state.

“We are focusing on mining and agriculture in creating jobs in this state. The mining company we are discussing with is going to take our local miners and train them and will group them into cooperatives so that they would become like sub contractors to them and be able to work with them.

“We are working with the federal government very closely to ensure that this happens” he said.

He said the government was also taking advantage of its abundant agricultural resources to woe investors, saying Kaduna has the best ginger in the world and that N5 billion would be spent for ginger production in the state.

Source: This Day

The governor of Zamfara state, Yari Abubakar, who embarked on an official trip to New York for the 71st session of the UN General Assembly has promised to put to great use, some of the deductions he made at the session which lasted for several days.

Also in attendance, was the President himself who spoke so much about poverty, terrorism, unemployment, security & climate change among others.

Mr Yari Abubakar reiterated in a statement made available to the media, the importance of his trip to his state, Zamfara.

He also said; “the need for the international community to work together to liberate humanity from poverty, save our planet from the devastation of climate change and rid the world of terrorism for a more peaceful and prosperous future cannot be over-emphasized considering how deep Nigeria is in poverty and the negative consequences of climate change“.

The plight of the displaced people especially in the North-Eastern Nigeria is of particular concern to the governor, who reiterated the efforts of his government in reaching out to IDPs in Northern Nigeria.

Governor Yari described his attendance of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly as an eye-opener. He also stated that there is much work to be done and of course the help of the international community is highly needed.

“At this point when diversification of the economy is non-negotiable and inevitable, Zamfara state will do nothing less than to embark on creating a stable and healthy economy, being one of the budding Northern States“, he stated.

Climate change has had it’s toll on Zamfara State and the government is reinforcing it’s commitment to ensure it does all it can to fight back and also create alternative solutions tot he crisis.

Zamfara state is a fast developing state in Northern Nigeria with huge potentials to take the lead among it’s contemporaries. She will be celebrating her 20 years anniversary since creation on the 1st of October, 1996.

“The trip is one of the very few which is hugely beneficial to the development of Zamfara State in terms of eradicating poverty, fighting crime, creating employment, diversifying the economy and of course stimulating investment and development“, the governor said in a closing remark.

Source: OMOJUWA.COM

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has kicked against the call by the National Council of State (NEC) as well as some senior government officials, including Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for the disposal of national assets.
El-Rufai, one-time Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), spoke at World Pension Summit ‘Africa Special’ co- hosted by The Netherland-based World Pension Summit Organisation and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) in Abuja.
He rather called for solutions from experts, just as he argued that instead of selling assets, the cost of governance should be reduced or what was not necessary eliminated.
He maintained that only national assets that were not doing well should be disposed off with the aim that buyers would turn them around for viability and job creation.
He added: “Yes, we are in a crisis. And it’s a short-term crisis. We should proffer solutions on how to solve it. Don’t say don’t do this, don’t do that without preferring solutions because Nigeria needs to have $40 billion in her reserves for our currency to stabilize. Unless our currency stabilises, we cannot even plan anything. But there is a middle to long-term restructuring challenge. And we are not going to do that unless we stabilise the macroeconomic indices now. We have to tame the tide of exchange rate, we have to lower the interest rate. We have to stabilise the economy first before we can plan for the future.
“ In my opinion, the solution we have is to look at our non-productive assets, put them out in the market in a way that is sensible and sequence them properly.”

Source: OMOJUWA.COM

The Kaduna State Government has disclosed plans to review workers salaries to meet current economic realities.

Speaking at an interactive session as part of the 2016 civil service week, the Head of Service, Mrs. Alisabatu Dada-Onazi, said a consultant has already been contracted to look at possible reform in the states civil service.

She added that, “The State would soon come up with a harmonised pay policy that will take cognisance of all the various salary structures in the state with a view to closing the existing salary gap among workers.

"The workers verification exercise, which commenced one year ago, was specifically meant to ascertain the actual figure of workers in the state, before any salary increment would be made, and so far, 75, 000 staff have been successfully verified and found to be genuine workers of the state, while about 13, 3236 others were found with various issues.

“Those with issues have been asked to write to the state governor and attached all relevant documents to prove they are genuine workers before their name can be included in the state pay role. I assure you that after cleansing the state’s pay role of ghost workers, workers salary would be improved."

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mohammed Mansir said that the government has budgeted N15 billion for capital project in the education sector, adding that public schools were currently being renovated and equipped with furniture and other interventions.

Similarly, his counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Hajiya Hauwa Umar said that N1.2 billion has been budgeted for management of solid waste alone.

Source: Daily Trust

Kaduna State government has named new heads for two of its tertiary institutions in the state in an effort to reposition its educational sector.
A statement signed by the Special Assistant to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, on Tuesday in Kaduna said that the governor had approved the appointments of Professors Shehu Dalhatu and Emmanuel Joseph Chom as administrators for Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, and Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya, respectively.

The appointments of new administrators, according to the statement, is with immediate effect, and for a period of six months.

It said the administrators were replacing Professor Dalhatu Balarabe Yahaya, former Rector, Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria and Mrs. Hope Hajara Gajere, former provost of the Kaduna State College of Education.

According to the statement, the governor, on behalf of the people and government of Kaduna State, thanked the former Rector and the Provost for the services rendered to the state in their respective capacities.

The statement added that Kaduna State Executive Council recently approved the White Papers on the reports of the visitation panels to its tertiary institutions.

It explained that various recommendations on how to strengthen the institutions were made and accepted, adding that the new administrators are expected to oversee the implementation of measures to revamp the institutions within their six-month tenure.

Source: Daily Post

Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State has said that money laundering will soon be history as the three tiers of government had intensified efforts to curb corrupt practices in the country.

Yari stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday.

He said that the ongoing fight against corruption by the Buhari’s administration was a clear indication that the era of criminal diversion of government’s money into private pockets had come to an end.

“We should know that this country is our country. We cannot have any other country that we will have the freedom to move around aside from Nigeria. So, we are the people that are going to make it a better country.

“The problem is that we travel abroad and we see how they do their things but when we come back, it becomes a problem to put it on the table and do the same.

“When you travel abroad and bring out 2,000 dollars to pay on the counter, people will look at you and wonder how you got the cash in this cashless society,’ he said.

The governor stressed that all hands must be on deck to ensure a corrupt-free society, saying that President Buhari could not fight corruption alone.

“All of us need to put our hands on deck and make sure we support this government to fight corruption that leads to money laundering,’’ he added.

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, who also spoke to the correspondents on the trial of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, in a London court over money laundering, said he had been vindicated.

“For me, I don’t think anybody should be surprised because the most favourable commentator on the Nigerian condition, the economy, the polity and society, everybody agrees that our economy was badly mismanaged over the past several years.

“I have not seen one commentator that disagrees. Even when they talk about re-basing and so what? Have you re-based the level of poverty? Have you re-based prosperity? Have you re-based unemployment? Have you re-based homelessness? Have you rebased hunger?’’ he queried.

The governor expressed satisfaction over the ongoing war against corruption in the country.

He said: “I’m the happiest person because I’ve been in government for seven years without being in power.

“I was in government, I could not call a commissioner of police and talk as a security officer, I’m haunted by all manners of persons.

“You kill the snake in Edo, they will put the snake on life support in Abuja and they keep harassing us.

“Now all those venoms are dead and buried. For the first time I’m excited and happy not just for personal benefit, but for the changes I’m beginning to see,’’ he said.

Source: The News

Kaduna State Government has awarded N8 billion worth of contract to Mothercat Limited for the expansion of Zaria water supply.
The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Suleman Lere, who made this known on Tuesday during the contract signing in Kaduna, said that the project was aimed at improving water supply in the state.

Lare explained that the expansion project was in two phases: the construction of 67 kilometres transmission lines at N4.6 billion and the construction of eight service reservoirs for N3.6 billion.

He explained that the contract was expected to be completed within 18 months.

The commissioner expressed confidence that the project, which suffered a lot of setbacks in the past, would be completed within the specified period.

“People are eager to see water running through their taps as part of the dividend of democracy; the Nasir El-Rufai led-administration will do everything possible to address the problem of water supply in the state,” he noted.

In his remark, Ghassan Al Damaa, who signed on behalf of Mothercat, thanked the state government for finding the company worthy of the contacts.

“We are very happy to be involved in infrastructural development of Kaduna State and the confidence reposed in us.

“We have carried out various World Bank financed project in this state successfully and because we have our head office in Kaduna, we consider ourselves part of the state,” he said.

In a related development, the state government had equally awarded a contract for the management, commercialisation and institutional support to the Kaduna State Water Corporation (KSWC).

Lere explained in a statement that the contract, under the Zaria Water Supply Expansion and Sanitation project was awarded to 2ML Consulting Ltd at N382,351, 800.

He said that the effort was to transform KSWC into an autonomous and commercially viable water utility company.

He explained that based on the contract description, 2ML would institutionalise commercial attitude in KSWC for improve service delivery.

“The company is equally expected to establish effective technical, billing, accounting and revenue collection system to improve operational and financial performance of the state water corporation.

“2ML is also expected to secure staff commitment through motivation to increase productivity and ensure improved skills related to water utility management,” the statement said.


Source: Daily Post

By Sanusi Muhammad, Gusau

The Vice President Prof. Yomi Osinbajo has commissioned multi-million Naira Gusau- Bungudu and Maru local government areas township roads constructed by the Zamfara state government as part of his one day working visit to the state to mark Zamfara state 20 years of its creation ceremony.The Vice President hails Zamfara state government under the leadership of Governor Abdulaziz Yari for transforming both urban and rural areas with accessibility of road network across the 14 local government areas of the state.
Prof. Osibanjo said, the roads constructed by the administration of governor Yari will go along way in boosting the state’s economic potentials as well as to enhance the living conditions of rural dwellers.

The vice president then tasks the 36 governors in the federation to emulate good policies and programs of Zamfara state government in transforming their respective states through providing social well-being to their people particularly rural dwellers for them to enjoy dividend of nascent democracy.

In his address, governor ABDULaziz Yari said, during his stewardship in office, his administration has been given priority attention to health care delivery, roads constructions, education, agriculture, water supply to mention but a few for the benefit of the entire people of the state saying, each local government headequater benefits 25 kilometer township road in the state.

Governor Yari then urged the entire people of the state to cooperate with his administration to enable it implement good policies and programs that have direct bearing to people in the state.

SOURCE: Gamji Reporters

He made the disclosure at the 50th anniversary of Nuhu Baturen Makaranta Primary School at Anguwan Kahu, Samaru in Zaria-City, Kaduna State.

He said government had so far spent N6 billion in renovating some selected 400 primary schools in the state.

El-Rufa’i added that the state government was considering the possibility of converting all primary schools into storey buildings
so as to accommodate more pupils.

Commenting on the ongoing primary school breakfast programme in the state, the governor said government was looking at the possibility of incorporating nursery pupils into the system to give them a sense of belonging.

In a message, the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, described the efforts of the state government toward revitalising the lost glory of education as a gigantic step in the right direction.

The royal father called on the people of the state to rally round the present administration at all levels to enable it to
deliver dividends of democracy to all.

Source: Vanguard

I am pleased to be here today to commission various projects executed by the administration of His Excellency, Honourable (Dr.) Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar (Shettiman Mafara), the governor of Zamfara state.
To me, coming to Zamfara state is homecoming for numerous reasons, one of which is that fact that the people of Zamfara have always shared with me a common vision of a Nigeria that is strong, united political entity and a dignified nation. The people of Zamfara have always shared my political ideals and political struggles right from the time I made up my mind to join active politics.
I have always enjoyed the overwhelming support of Zamfarawa since my first contest for presidency in 2003. I am very grateful to the people of Zamfara: Men and women, old and young alike.
I am deeply impressed by work done by Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar. I have known him as one of the performing governors since his first term in office. I could recall that in the days running up to the 2013 Democracy Day, I was invited to commission the multimillion naira Boko Bridge, which is one of the landmark achievements of his administration. I therefore commend Governor Yari’s efforts and hope he will sustain the tempo in order to leave behind a more developed and more prosperous Zamfara state.
As the people of Zamfara State are aware, the Change Agenda was central issue of our 2015 electioneering campaign. You have all agreed to join me and work as agents of change. The challenge before all of us therefore is to translate this desire for change into reality. Since this Administration’s assumption of office in May 2015, the journey to fix the country and restore the hope of the common man in the Nigerian project began in earnest.
I therefore wish to call on everyone to think closely about Nigeria’s changing situation. There is no easy money to throw around. We must go back to farming, livestock rearing from which we could develop industries. We must collectively put our hands on deck to ensure the success of our mission of reengineering Nigeria.
If genuine efforts were made in the past to diversify the economy from absolute reliance on a single commodity, we would not have found ourselves in our current situation.
I however assure all Nigerians that the grim economic problems are a passing phase which all societies go through. Meanwhile our security situation is improving not only in the north-east but all over the country. We are confident that our macroeconomic policies as well as the monetary policies being implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria will lead to revitalisation of industries and steady growth in significant sectors of the economy.
Our commitment to secure the country has already started yielding results, as rightly noted by Governor Yari that for the first time in the history of Boko Haram insurgency seven years ago, the people of Borno state celebrated their Eid-il-fitr with ease devoid of any security barricades.
Let me use this occasion to reiterate that government is determined more than ever before to deal decisively with any threat to the security of this nation from any quarters. Part of the reasons I am personally here in Zamfara State to flag-off the military operations aimed at rooting out the menace of cattle rustlers and armed bandits not only in Zamfara State but the entire axis of north-west.
I also wish to reiterate to the people of Zamfara state and to Nigerians in general the commitment of my administration to restoring sanity in governance. We shall continue to prosecute the war against corruption. We do not wish or desire to humiliate or disgrace anybody but we must recover stolen funds and put them to correct public use.
My dear people of Zamfara state, I have listened to the series of requests put forward by your governor. I assure you that we shall carefully study them and respond appropriately. I am fully aware of the potentials of Zamfara State, most especially in agriculture livestocks and solid minerals.

As our administration is determined to diversify the economy of the country, Zamfara State is certainly
a fertile ground that must be harnessed to contribute to the over-all national effort.
May I also register my appreciation to the people and government of Zamfara State for the reception accorded me and my entourage. The Zamfarawa are legendary for their hospitality. I am therefore not surprised by the warm reception we have received. But, after all, for me coming to Zamfara State is homecoming.
Finally, it is my prayer that all the projects I commissioned will be of immense benefit to the people of Zamfara state.
Thank you for listening and Barka da Sallah.
Allah ya Bamu damana da kaka masu albarka, Amin.

Source: Abujacitynew's blog

The Kaduna State Government, on Wednesday advised teachers in the state to strive to improve their professional status, for effective service delivery.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai made the call at the 2016 World Teachers’ Day Celebration in Kaduna, with the theme, `Valuing Teachers, Improving Their Status.’
The governor disclosed that teachers had not been accessing the provisions made by government for teachers’ professional development.
He said that the government had set aside funds for teachers’ professional training in local and foreign institutions.
“I want to hear teachers applying that they want to upgrade to masters or doctorate degree, but no one is applying and the fund is just lying dormant,” Mr. El-Rufa’i said.
He said that the state had allocated 35 per cent of its 2016 budget to education, far above the 26 per cent recommended by UNESCO, to reposition the sector for quality service delivery.
Mr. El-Rufa’i commended the National Council on Education for approving the re-introduction of History and Religious Studies in all Nigerian schools.
The governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Andrew Nok.
The Guess Speaker, Benjamin Gugon of Kaduna State University, advised the government to introduce reward system, to motivate teachers.
He also called for special salary package for teachers in the country.
Mr. Gugon, in a paper entitled, `Valuing Teacher and Improving their Status’, said teachers must display exemplary conducts, to earn respect of pupils, community and government.
Earlier, the state Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Audu Amba, urged teachers to always update their knowledge in tune with current best practices.
Mr. Amba commended the state government for its consistency in paying teachers’ salaries, at a time most states were unable to meet the salary obligation of their workers.
He also applauded the government for upgrading teachers’ terminal salary to grade level 17, equivalent to that of permanent secretary.
The NUT boss, however, called on the state government to settle the 2015 Leave Transport Grant of primary school teachers, which was yet to be paid.
“Similarly, with the series of verification over, and genuine staff determined, arrears of their salaries should be paid immediately to cushion their hardship,” Mr. Amba said.
Also speaking, the Head of Service, Alisabatu Dada-Onazi, apologised to teachers in the state for the pains they had to endure during the verification of their employment status.
She said that 9,000 teachers out of over 77, 000 in public primary and secondary schools were found to have “questionable” employment status.
Mrs. Dada-Onazi assured that the affected teachers would be reinstated once they were able to prove the genuineness of their employment.
She promised that the government would settle the arrears of the teachers leave and transport grant for 2015 and 2016.
The head of service urged teachers to be more committed to their duties and support government efforts at repositioning the education sector.
Meanwhile, a teacher with Government Secondary School, Angwan Boro, Rahab Yahaya, has called for improvement in the salaries of teachers.
She said that the current take home pay for teachers was “very poor”, stressing that enhancing the salary package would help to retain competent hands in the profession.
(NAN)


Source: Premium Times

Kafanchan (Kaduna) – The Kaduna State Government on Friday performed the ground breaking for its $120 million Vicampro Potato Farm and Processing facility in Manchok, Kaura.

The farm is expected to cover 10,000 hectares of land and generate 30,000 job opportunities.

Performing the ceremony, Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State said the processing facility would earn foreign exchange and reduce over-dependence on oil.

El-Rufa’i said the State government was determined to promote agricultural practices to fast track development, diversify the economy and boost Internally Generated Revenue.

“Today’s event is a product of the Kaduna Economic Summit in April this year, where it showcased the numerous investment potentials in the State,” he said.

El-Rufa’i also appealed to the host community to support and cooperate with Vicampro to pave way for the attainment of its mission.

Also speaking, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) lamented the drop in oil prices, which he said had drastically affected the Country’s economy.

” There is therefore need for diversification as the only alternative.”

Emefiele said there was need for synergy among all stakeholders to actualise the initiative.

He commended the Kaduna State government for supporting the CBN to guarantee stable micro economy.

The CBN Governor assured the people that the bank would collaborate with the State government to translate the idea to reality for the benefit of all.

In a remark, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar, described the development as a giant stride towards moving the economy forward.

Earlier in his address, the Managing Director of Vicampro company, Michael Agbogbo said the company would produce French fries, Irish flakes and biscuits for local and international consumption.

The Chief of Moro’a, Malam Tagwai Sambo, commended the State government for establishing the facility in Manchok and pledged the cooperation of the community.

Source: Punch

By Salisu Maradun

Gusau—GOVERNOR Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State has said he has never spent public fund on any foreign trip, challenging critics to prove him wrong.


Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State
The governor, who spoke through his Information and Culture Commissioner, Ahaji Umar Jibo Bukkuyum, also explained that what he had done and was still doing, was to move the state forward developmentally.

According to him, the governor was doing his best toward addressing the problems in the state, saying “Instead of the people to be talking meaninglessly, they should face realities. It is a known fact that before this governor came in, so many things were lacking. For instance; a number of roads have been constructed across the state, and where there was no health institution, it has been built.”

He said instead of spreading unfounded rumours, people, should pray for the leaders to succeed in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The commissioner added that contracts for a number of roads to be constructed in the state had been awarded by the government in addition to the ones that had been completed, stressing that recently over N1 billion was released for payment of WAEC and NECO for students.

“We expect the people to commend the government over this development, and not to spread rumours. I think we should be fair to ourselves,” Bukkuyum said.

Source: PUNCH

Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday denied planning to demolish all illegal structures in the state.

The governor, however, insisted that houses built on government-owned schools and hospitals lands would be demolished in order to recover the affected lands.

El-Rufai had, in the second edition of Town Hall meeting in Zaria, initiated by his administration to interface with residents, threatened to demolish illegal structures on government-owned schools, starting from Thursday.

Two days to the commencement of the exercise, the governor explained that his mission was to recover government lands that were illegally acquired from state-owned schools and hospitals, assuring the people of the state not to entertain any fear.

The governor made the clarification through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, while briefing journalists at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna on Tuesday.

He added, “Since after the Town Hall meeting in Zaria on Sunday, some people have started a campaign of calumny that el-Rufai has come to embark on demolition of houses in Kaduna, but to set the records straight, we are only asking those who illegally occupied government-owned institutions’ lands to vacate the lands.

“This government cannot allow the encroachment on schools and hospitals lands to continue. For instance, when we visited the state library in Zaria and Alhudahuda College, private buildings have almost taken over the institutions. This has serious effect on the learning atmosphere in such institutions.

“Alhudahuda College, for instance, is over 100 years in existence, but if we allow the type of encroachment going on there to continue, the school might go into extinction in the next 30 years.

“We have given them notice and it will expire on Wednesday, August 5. We will only recover the lands for the future of our children. The public lands belong to the good people of Kaduna State and we must recover it before it is late.”

SOURCE: PUNCH

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has promised to build and equip at least one primary health centre in each of the state’s 255 wards.
El-Rufai disclosed this in a state-wide broadcast in Kaduna.
He said that at least one general hospital would also be equipped in each of the three senatorial districts.
“In addition to providing better facilities, we would be recruiting more doctors, nurses, midwives and technologists for our improved hospitals,” the governor said.
He explained that the projects were part of the Primary Healthcare Under One Roof (PHCUOR) project being implemented by the government.
“A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with General Electric Healthcare to modernise primary health centres and public hospitals.
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“Both parties have committed to identifying the specific needs of the centres and hospitals, so that modern equipment can be installed to improve the diagnosis and management of patients.
“We have therefore sent this framework as our first executive bill to the State House of Assembly,” El-Rufai said.
He also disclosed that his administration, within its two months in office, had installed dialysis machines to assist kidney patients.
“We have installed two dialysis machines and have repaired three dialysis equipment at Barau Dikko Hospital.
“We hope to take delivery of four other dialysis machines to be installed at our general hospitals in Kafanchan and Zaria within weeks.
“Arrangements are being made to purchase consumables for the next 12 months so that dialysis will be affordable to Kaduna citizens needing it,” he said.

Source: TODAY

By Samuel Aruwan

In its first year in office, the Kaduna State Government, led by Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has demonstrated the substantive meaning of change. His electoral mandate is being implemented as a conscientious exercise in building new foundations on which to erect a sustainable future for Kaduna State.



Change is not about new faces in Government House, or fresh appointees doing the same old things. It is about giving a new direction, making tough choices and delivering the social goods the people need. Explaining the motivations of his policies, El-Rufai said that “our programme is structured to ensure that poverty does not stifle a child’s ability to gain decent basic education or kill a pregnant mother during childbirth, and that young people have the skills and access to finance to actualize their agency in creating jobs or in doing well where they are employed. We seek to reduce the possibility that pregnancy becomes a multiple, sometimes fatal ordeal for father, mother and infant. We seek to stand by the hardworking and the honest, to promote initiative and to reward merit without religious or ethnic preference”. Anchored on a new style that is devoid of ostentation, Malam El-Rufai is providing leadership distinguished by personal example and sacrifice.

The tone was set in his inauguration speech where he announced that he and Deputy-Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala would donate 50% of their salary and allowances to the state. This was to underline the need for everyone to be prepared for the sacrifices ahead. Having inherited a state government that spent most of its revenues on public servants and political appointees, El-Rufai was determined to change this. He affirmed a commitment to reorienting government spending away from catering for the few to delivering the needs of the many. As he told the honourable members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, can a government elected by majority vote turn around to focus public spending on a few? Can a polity be properly described as a democracy if its resources are consistently gulped by a tiny minority?

Shrinking Government; cutting costs.

El-Rufai answered these questions by shrinking the size of government. He merged and restructured ministries, reducing them from 19 to 13. Where the previous government had 24 commissioners, he appointed only 13, attaching their portfolios to the nomination papers he forwarded to the legislature. He moved on to tackling the issues of fraud and waste, cutting overheads in the Executive Branch to 40% and initiating the biometric verification of civil servants and pensioners. The verification exercise has helped to reduce the monthly wage bill to N2.2bn from the N2.7bn it was in May 2015. By October 2015, 2,484 ghost pensioners were removed from the payroll, and that is saving the state N1.3bn every year. With N14.3bn in inherited pension arrears, the case for verifying pensioners makes itself. (To be continued)

Source: Legacy Reporters

The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo was in Gusau, Friday, to commission projects executed by the Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari administration.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo commended Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara for providing infrastructure in the state, while he noted that as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Gov. Yari has not disappointed his colleagues, especially at the National Economic Forum where he encouraged them to provide the much needed infrastructure for the development of their respective states.

Prof. Osinbajo commissioned township roads projects. Governor Abdulaziz Yari said he spent over N6 billion in the construction of 20 kilometers township roads in each of the 14 local government areas of the state. He said that his administration had also provided street lights in the state capital at the cost of N150 million and spent N991 million in the rehabilitation of the Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Gusau. Yari said the state government also spent N105 million n the rehabilitation of the School for Continuing Education, Gusau.

In his remark at the launch of the Maru township water project in Maru Local Government, Prof. Osinbajo announced that the Federal Government is planning to use the arable land in Zamfara to make the state a leading agriculture hub in the country. He said the state was blessed with vast farmland and good potential, stressing that the Federal Government decided to invest heavily in the state in agriculture next year.

Regarding the current economic situation in the country, Prof. Osinbajo urged Nigerians to come together and fight the current economic recession, stressing that “everyone must play his or her role through the payment of taxes, obedience to law and order and helping the poor.”

It was indeed a colorful event which saw the attendance of eminent people in the Government, business and traditional institution. Among the dignitaries were the Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudo, Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Zamfara State Deputy Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Wakkala, the Emir of Bungudu Alhaji Hassan Atto Bungudu.

Source: Voiceless Defenders

Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State has directed the state’s Ministry of Lands and Survey to demolish all illegal structures along the Bello Bara’u -GRA Road in Gusau.
The governor gave the directive yesterday in Gusau, while inspecting projects being executed in the state capital.

Yari warned that the state government would not allow anyone to erect structures along the road after it had paid compensation for the removal of illegal structures.
“I see no reason why people should build their houses or shops on lands over which government has paid compensation to make way for a road project. We are executing these projects for the betterment of our people; that is why we use their resources to pay owners of the affected houses”, he said.
He accused officials of the ministries of works, lands, surveys and housing of complicity, saying that they were responsible for the erection of the illegal structures. (NAN)

Source: Daily Trust

Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday held a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders to deliberate on the proposed 2016 budget and announced that political appointees in his administration would take a pay cut for change.
The proposed budget is about N166bn, comprising N104bn capital and N62bn recurrent expenditure.
Addressing stakeholders at General Hassan Katsina House, El-Rufai said previous administrations in the state had reduced budgeting to what he called fictographic art, with scarcely any relationship to reality.
He said political appointees would take pay cuts as sacrifice for change while there would be no automatic annual salary increments in 2016 and duty tour allowances and estacode rates would be reduced.
“We have called this meeting today to present to you the broad principles informing the policy choices that are reflected in the draft 2016 budget. The budget is anchored on the commitments outlined in the Restoration Programme, the manifesto platform on which the Kaduna State APC campaigned,” he said.
“When we formally launched our election campaign, we made it clear that the APC believes in the capacity of our people to make the best choices for themselves if they are properly educated, given decent healthcare and jobs in a secure environment,” he added.
The governor said annual budgets were approved in the past without being implemented, leaving a legacy of abandoned projects in the state, and assured that he would always put the people first in all his actions.
He said in the proposed 2016 budget, one of the pro-poor programmes included interventions in school feeding, planting of economic trees and waste collection which are expected to create 200,000 jobs.

Source: Naija247 News

Governments in Nigeria pay close to zero attention to provision of potable water. It is one of those issues politicians rarely campaign with or make promise about. Whatever is done in that sector is hardly regarded as an achievement. But Governor Yari Abubakar has spent a great deal of time and resources…

Bukola Ogunyemi



Zamfara, Nigeria, June 21, 2016 – From time immemorial, philosophers and scientists have linked development to the presence of safe and clean drinking water.

In fact, the availability of and access to potable water is one of the strongest indicators for development in any society. It is therefore not surprising that 37 percent of the 884 million people in the world who lack access to safe water supply live in Sub-Saharan Africa.


As water is linked to development, so is it linked to poverty and almost 2 in 3 people who need safe drinking water survive on less than $2 a day.
Not only are people living without access to clean water burdened with poverty and underdevelopment, their health and education are also adversely affected.

Worldwide nearly 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of 5 is due to a water-related disease and in developing countries, as much as 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions. Half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water-related diseases, leading to more than 840,000 deaths each year.

With these searing statistics in mind, it becomes almost impossible not to view what Zamfara State Governor, Dr Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar has achieved in improving access to potable water in Zamfara State over the last five years as a revolution.

Most state governments in Nigeria pay close to zero attention to provision of potable water. It is one of those issues politicians rarely campaign with or make promise about. Whatever is done in that sector is hardly regarded as an achievement. But Governor Yari Abubakar has spent a great deal of time and resources over the last five years bringing lasting solution and succour to Zamfara State.

When his administration assumed office in 2011, Yari Abubakar wasted no time in giving the strongest possible hint that water provision would be of the highest priority to his government.

The Governor kicked off efforts in this regard by ensuring speedy completion of the N636 million Kaura-Namoda water treatment plant in order to ease the persistent problem of water scarcity in Kaura-Namoda Local Government.

He personally inspected the project, which was inherited from the previous administration but was curiously omitted from the handing over notes.

One year into office, the administration of Yari Abubakar awarded a N6.7 billion contract for the construction of a water treatment plant at Talata Mafara. When completed, it will provide five million gallons of treated water to Talata Mafara, Maradun, Bakura and Maru Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The true test of Yari Abubakar’s leadership ethos came while he was away, when the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Ibrahim Wakkala, in acting capacity inspected this monumental project and ordered the demolition of part of the water treatment plant over non-adherence to contract specifications.

The engineering consultants handling the projects had raised observations over the contractor’s violation of contract agreement, and the Deputy Governor, being well grounded in the administration’s vision said the government would not compromise quality and standard in any job awarded in line with its principle of transparency and accountability.

In 2013, Yari Abubakar continued with his vision of executing at least one major water project each year to improve access to clean and safe drinking water in Zamfara State. The dredging of the Gusau water barrage and the provision of two underground fresh water plants and reservoirs to complement the barrage in an effort to ensure consistent water supply in the state capital were classified as priority projects. Two years in, the Yari Abubakar administration had spent N7 billion to improve water supply in all parts of the state with the rehabilitation and expansion of Kaura Namoda and Talata Mafara water works as achievements.

Seeing the dedication and commitment of the Zamfara State government under the leadership of Dr Yari Abubakar to the provision of adequate water supply, international organizations in 2015 partnered with the government to achieve even more.

The governor signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU)with the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in conjunction with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in effort to enhance the provision of water and sanitation in the state.

He also immediately approved the release of N85 million counterpart funding for the projects to be executed under the MoU. Birnin Magaji, Tsafe and Gusau were selected as piloting local government areas to immediately benefit from the projects, before expanding it to all the other local government areas.

So far in 2016, N111 million has been committed by the government, through the Ministry of Water Resources, to tackle water shortage usually experienced during dry season by residents in Gusau, Zamfara State capital and its environs. The expansion of water pipelines from Koramar Wanke and Yarkusa reservoir directly to the water board is almost completed.

Similar projects are executed in all the 14 local councils of the state before 2019 to ensure that the acute water shortage being experienced by the communities is addressed.

Travelling through Zamfara State there is a recurring theme, from one local government to the other, giant water supply plants powered by solar energy. From Kasuwar Daji, to Gora in Maradu local government, to Rini in Bagura local government, these water schemes have gone a long way in improving the economic development of the communities where they are sited. And there is perhaps no greater form of economic empowerment, albeit indirectly, for the women in these communities.

Almost two-thirds of households rely on women to get water for the family.



In many developing countries, millions of women spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources.

The United Nations estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa alone loses 40 billion hours per year collecting water; the same as an entire year’s labour in all of France.

For Yari Abubakar, no policy decision or investment is in isolation, and there is a nexus, driven by innovation and thoughtfulness, between education and water supply in Zamfara.

As government embarked on wide rehabilitation of old structures and construction of new ones in schools across the state, equipped with solar-power, the ingenuity behind this is fully appreciated when you learn that more than half of all primary schools in developing countries don’t have adequate water facilities.

According to the World Health Organization, for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, there is an economic return of between $3 and $34. Haven committed N26 billion over the last five years to the establishment of an efficient system of production and distribution of clean and safe drinking water, Yari Abubakar has undoubtedly set Zamfara State on the path of economic prosperity while alleviating the sufferings of the people.


SOURCE: STARCONNECT MEDIA.COM

The Kaduna State government in conjunction with the Islamic Development Bank has concluded plans to build four more science secondary schools in the state to promote science education.
Speaking at the bid opening in Kaduna, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. David Chatjok, said the project was aimed at promoting science and complementing the already existing science secondary schools.
“The schools include Girls Science Secondary School in Sabon Gari Local Government , Boys’ Science Secondary School in Rigachikun, Girls’ Science Secondary School in Kaduna Millennium City and the Boys’’ Science Secondary School Manchok, covering the three senatorial zones of the state jointly sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank and the Kaduna State government.

“We have received over 100 bids and the project was envisaged to promote science education in the state, because at the moment, the science secondary schools we have are not adequate. The state government awarded contracts for the renovation of these schools and supply of equipment to uplift their standards,” he said.

Source: DAILY TRUST

The Kaduna State government is set to shame individuals who build on land meant for public schools by naming them, an official has said.
Samuel Aruwan, who speaks for Governor Nasir El-Rufai, said the names will be made public soon.
There have been public altercations between owners of such buildings and the state government as the owners say they acquired the land through due process.
Mr. Aruwan, while addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Saturday, said the state government is determined to restore the lands to the schools.
According to Mr. Aruwan, the ongoing recovery exercise is now being implemented in Rimi College, Kaduna. Founded in 1941 as Saint John’s College, the school occupies 24.387 hectares of land.
He added that previous governments “eventually excised a total of 3.19 hectares, which they gave to private individuals. The school also lost its students’ hostels which were converted to offices for some state and federal agencies.”
On when government will make public names of those allocated land in the school, Mr. Aruwan said, “The promise made by the governor will be fulfilled soon”.
He added that the government considers it prudent to publish the names of the individuals that were allocated plots of land within the school by previous administrations.
“The Government is aware that some of the 38 beneficiaries of the allocations took no steps to develop their plots because they had reservations about building on school property.
“Government hopes that our elite would subscribe to a consensus that preserves and respects the integrity of social asset like schools and hospitals. Take it from me that the public will get to know everything and nothing will be hidden,” he said.
One of the persons who lives in his house in Rimi College told PREMIUM TIMES that although his house is on the school land, he followed due process to acquire it.
“I got my land by following the right channel, but I am willing to quit the property for the betterment of our state,” he said. “I just hope we get some kind of compensation from the government.”

SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

The Kaduna State government is set to shame individuals who build on land meant for public schools by naming them, an official has said.
Samuel Aruwan, who speaks for Governor Nasir El-Rufai, said the names will be made public soon.
There have been public altercations between owners of such buildings and the state government as the owners say they acquired the land through due process.
Mr. Aruwan, while addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Saturday, said the state government is determined to restore the lands to the schools.
According to Mr. Aruwan, the ongoing recovery exercise is now being implemented in Rimi College, Kaduna. Founded in 1941 as Saint John’s College, the school occupies 24.387 hectares of land.
He added that previous governments “eventually excised a total of 3.19 hectares, which they gave to private individuals. The school also lost its students’ hostels which were converted to offices for some state and federal agencies.”
On when government will make public names of those allocated land in the school, Mr. Aruwan said, “The promise made by the governor will be fulfilled soon”.
He added that the government considers it prudent to publish the names of the individuals that were allocated plots of land within the school by previous administrations.
“The Government is aware that some of the 38 beneficiaries of the allocations took no steps to develop their plots because they had reservations about building on school property.
“Government hopes that our elite would subscribe to a consensus that preserves and respects the integrity of social asset like schools and hospitals. Take it from me that the public will get to know everything and nothing will be hidden,” he said.
One of the persons who lives in his house in Rimi College told PREMIUM TIMES that although his house is on the school land, he followed due process to acquire it.
“I got my land by following the right channel, but I am willing to quit the property for the betterment of our state,” he said. “I just hope we get some kind of compensation from the government.”


SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Shehu Usman Adamu, on Sunday, revealed that the state government has concluded all plans to build six science secondary schools in the state.

The Commissioner, who made this known while addressing journalists today disclosed that the Kaduna State Executive Council approved the six sites for the schools, which are to be financed by 17.3 million dollars loan from the Islamic Development Bank .

Adamu also disclosed that Kaduna State Government will be contributing counterpart funding of 3.8 million dollars

He added: “The project, which has suffered delays over the years, is now to be fast racked with schools will be sited in Jere, Rigachikun, Manchok, Pambegua, Buruku and Hunkuyi. Two of the sites previously identified were changed for several reasons. ”

The Commissioner further hinted that the Islamic Development Bank approved the facility for Kaduna State in 2009, which was initially meant to build and equip four science schools . He also said the objective is to raise the number of science graduates from senior secondary schools in Kaduna State.

“A new school has already been constructed within the former project site at Koreye, while the site within the Millennium City is considered unsuitable for a boarding school, given that it is a business district.” He added.

However, he further disclosed that teachers in Kaduna State schools can now rise to Grade Level 17.

According to him,teachers who rise to that level will now be addressed as Director-Tutors, and will bring their knowledge and experience to teaching specific subjects in secondary schools.

Adamu equally explained that Council approval of this career progression for teachers followed the promise of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, to ensure that teachers can rise to the highest grade without having to stop teaching.


THE NEWS

The Kaduna State Government, on Wednesday advised teachers in the state to strive to improve their professional status, for effective service delivery.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai made the call at the 2016 World Teachers’ Day Celebration in Kaduna, with the theme, `Valuing Teachers, Improving Their Status.’
The governor disclosed that teachers had not been accessing the provisions made by government for teachers’ professional development.
He said that the government had set aside funds for teachers’ professional training in local and foreign institutions.
“I want to hear teachers applying that they want to upgrade to masters or doctorate degree, but no one is applying and the fund is just lying dormant,” Mr. El-Rufa’i said.
He said that the state had allocated 35 per cent of its 2016 budget to education, far above the 26 per cent recommended by UNESCO, to reposition the sector for quality service delivery.
Mr. El-Rufa’i commended the National Council on Education for approving the re-introduction of History and Religious Studies in all Nigerian schools.
The governor was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Andrew Nok.
The Guess Speaker, Benjamin Gugon of Kaduna State University, advised the government to introduce reward system, to motivate teachers.
He also called for special salary package for teachers in the country.
Mr. Gugon, in a paper entitled, `Valuing Teacher and Improving their Status’, said teachers must display exemplary conducts, to earn respect of pupils, community and government.
Earlier, the state Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Audu Amba, urged teachers to always update their knowledge in tune with current best practices.
Mr. Amba commended the state government for its consistency in paying teachers’ salaries, at a time most states were unable to meet the salary obligation of their workers.
He also applauded the government for upgrading teachers’ terminal salary to grade level 17, equivalent to that of permanent secretary.
The NUT boss, however, called on the state government to settle the 2015 Leave Transport Grant of primary school teachers, which was yet to be paid.
“Similarly, with the series of verification over, and genuine staff determined, arrears of their salaries should be paid immediately to cushion their hardship,” Mr. Amba said.
Also speaking, the Head of Service, Alisabatu Dada-Onazi, apologised to teachers in the state for the pains they had to endure during the verification of their employment status.
She said that 9,000 teachers out of over 77, 000 in public primary and secondary schools were found to have “questionable” employment status.
Mrs. Dada-Onazi assured that the affected teachers would be reinstated once they were able to prove the genuineness of their employment.
She promised that the government would settle the arrears of the teachers leave and transport grant for 2015 and 2016.
The head of service urged teachers to be more committed to their duties and support government efforts at repositioning the education sector.
Meanwhile, a teacher with Government Secondary School, Angwan Boro, Rahab Yahaya, has called for improvement in the salaries of teachers.
She said that the current take home pay for teachers was “very poor”, stressing that enhancing the salary package would help to retain competent hands in the profession.
(NAN)


SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

The Kaduna State government in conjunction with the Islamic Development Bank has concluded plans to build four more science secondary schools in the state to promote science education.
Speaking at the bid opening in Kaduna, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. David Chatjok, said the project was aimed at promoting science and complementing the already existing science secondary schools.
“The schools include Girls Science Secondary School in Sabon Gari Local Government , Boys’ Science Secondary School in Rigachikun, Girls’ Science Secondary School in Kaduna Millennium City and the Boys’’ Science Secondary School Manchok, covering the three senatorial zones of the state jointly sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank and the Kaduna State government.

“We have received over 100 bids and the project was envisaged to promote science education in the state, because at the moment, the science secondary schools we have are not adequate. The state government awarded contracts for the renovation of these schools and supply of equipment to uplift their standards,” he said.

Governor Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari of Zamfara State has said that despite the inclement economic situation in the country, he is committed to executing the developmental and social programmes he stated his administration has initiated.
To enable him do that, the governor has turned to the Department for International Development, a United Kingdom government department responsible for administering overseas aid. The department says its “goal is to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty.”

Gov Yari admitted to two officials of the DFID who visited him last Tuesday in Abuja that while he intends to work towards eliminating poverty in Zamfara State, he is hamstrung by funds. Yari, who is chairman of the Governors’ Forum, lamented how states generally have been struggling to meet even the vital obligation of workers’ salaries when due owing to the acute crash in the monthly financial handout they receive from the federal government. In November last year, the Central Bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, did disclose that monthly allocation to each state had been falling by an average of N2 billion.
Zamfara State itself had budgeted about N207bn from June 2011 to December 2015 but was able to get only N187.307bn for those years from the federal allocation, leaving it with a considerable shortfall in meeting its obligations.
Last week’s visit of the DFID officials - Robert Watt, head of the Department’s regional office and Ben Nicholson, Regional Coordinator - was a concretization of discussions the governor said started in the last quarter of 2014 and continued after the 2015 general elections. The collaboration isn’t free lunch for Zamfara State, as it is expected to provide in the ongoing phase a counterpart funding of two to three million pounds sterling while the DFID drops a million pounds.
The Department is partnering with Zamfara State on programmes in education, health, water, sanitation and nutrition, areas Gov Yari said he regarded as “touching on the welfare of the mass of the Zamfara people.” There are 11 DFID programmes already running in these sectors in the state.
A 14-page document Nicholson and Watt submitted to the governor during their visit showed that in education, the Zamfara State government is focusing on what it calls the Teacher Development Programme (TDP) whose main objective is to “develop a critical mass of proficient teachers in government and non-government schools.” It is also paying close attention to the education of girls.
The DFID stated the partnership has been able to achieve some key goals. By it, 1022 teachers are undergoing cluster trainings, 168 head teachers have been assisted, and useful education materials like Teachers Guide, lesson plans, mobile phones and education tablets had been distributed to many participants. Moreover, teaching quality is being enhanced through training for education management information system (EMIS) in Excel and Monitoring & Evaluation, as well as in Database Management & Networking.
DFID lists its participation in health and nutrition areas in Zamfara State as wide, encompassing “maternal new born child health, working to improve nutrition in Northern Nigeria, Women for Health (WfH) which is working towards increasing the number of female health workers in the rural areas, the Northern Nigeria integrated neglected tropical diseases and child development grants programme (CDGP).”
The UK body explains that the CDGP aims to tackle poverty and hunger in Zamfara State, as well as reducing malnutrition in children under five years. The programme also targets pregnant women “as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed and the child reaches two years old (the baby’s first 1000 days).
So far, at least, N500 million has been disbursed to beneficiaries of the CDGP over the last two years, with disbursement reaching 17,404 pregnant women in two local government areas by January 2016. The programme has also created jobs with over 16,000 benefic

General

Kaduna to review workers' salary
By Maryam Ahmadu-Suka, Kaduna | Publish Date: Jun 29 2016 2:55PM
(2 Likes)

Kaduna state governor, Nasir Elrufai


The Kaduna State Government has disclosed plans to review workers salaries to meet current economic realities.

Speaking at an interactive session as part of the 2016 civil service week, the Head of Service, Mrs. Alisabatu Dada-Onazi, said a consultant has already been contracted to look at possible reform in the states civil service.

She added that, “The State would soon come up with a harmonised pay policy that will take cognisance of all the various salary structures in the state with a view to closing the existing salary gap among workers.

"The workers verification exercise, which commenced one year ago, was specifically meant to ascertain the actual figure of workers in the state, before any salary increment would be made, and so far, 75, 000 staff have been successfully verified and found to be genuine workers of the state, while about 13, 3236 others were found with various issues.

“Those with issues have been asked to write to the state governor and attached all relevant documents to prove they are genuine workers before their name can be included in the state pay role. I assure you that after cleansing the state’s pay role of ghost workers, workers salary would be improved."

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mohammed Mansir said that the government has budgeted N15 billion for capital project in the education sector, adding that public schools were currently being renovated and equipped with furniture and other interventions.

Similarly, his counterpart in the Ministry of Environment, Hajiya Hauwa Umar said that N1.2 billion has been budgeted for management of solid waste alone.

By Sola Ogundipe

Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA 2020) 2nd round survey results released in Abuja recently, show that impressive progress is being made by family planning programmes in Lagos and Kaduna.

Data from the innovative mobile-phone-based survey, led by the Centre for Research, Evaluation Resources & Development, CRERD, and Bayero University Kano, and implemented by the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, demonstrate that there have been considerable gains in access to and use of modern contraceptives, particularly for long-acting methods such as intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) and contraceptive implants.

Long-acting contraceptives are highly effective and can protect women from pregnancy for many years.

The first round of PMA2020 in Lagos and Kaduna was conducted late 2014 while the 2nd round was conducted 12 months later in late 2015.

In the year between surveys, long-acting method use increased by 4 percent points in Lagos and 3 percent points in Kaduna.

Over half of the increase in overall modern contraceptive use in both states is attributable to this rapid uptake of long-acting methods. These data may represent progress made under the Nigerian government’s LARC Strategy for 2013-2015, which seeks to ensure that all women who want implants or IUDs can get them through public health sector providers.

PMA2020 data show that 78 percent of implant and IUD users in Kaduna and 65 percent in Lagos obtain their method from the public sector.

Total demand for family planning has increased between rounds and a greater proportion of that need is now being satisfied by the provision of modern methods.

The percentage of women who want to space or limit their births but are not using a method of contraception (i.e., unmet need) has decreased in both states, by over 3 percent points in Lagos and 4 percent points in Kaduna. While family planning appears to be reaching more women overall, wealth disparities in use and unmet need persist in both states, suggesting a need for continued efforts to expand access to modern contraception to the underserved poor. Modern contraceptive use is twice as high among the wealthiest compared to the poorest women in Lagos and over six times as high among the wealthiest compared to the poorest women in Kaduna.

PMA2020 is being conducted in 11 countries in Africa and Asia and supports monitoring for the Family Planning 2020 (FP2020) goal of meeting the family planning needs of 120 additional million women and girls by the year 2020.