Ogona Anita
This was disclosed to journalists at the NUJ Press Centre in Kaduna on 24th December, 2024 by Professor Bello Ayuba his Principal Private Secretary. He said not minding the limited resources, his Excellency went to work without looking back. He believes that before the end of his 1st term in office much successes would have been recorded.
In the area of security, the Government has forged a solid partnership with Federal Security Forces to secure Kaduna State, by giving them logistics support to enhance their operations.
Governor Uba Sani distributed 150 Operational Vehicles and 500 Motorcycles to them and the Kaduna State Vigilance Service (KADVS) to boost their operations.
Besides that, the Governor has recently signed the Kaduna State Security Trust Fund Bill into Law. The Trust Fund will raise funds for the acquisition and deployment of even more security equipment, personnel and materials as well as training of security personnel.
Through the efforts of the Peace Dialogue Group established by the Kaduna State Government in collaboration with Federal Agencies and Security Services, peace has returned to Birnin Gwari.
On November 29, the Governor reopened the famous and strategic Birnin Gwari Market which had been closed for about 10 years, thus signaling the commencement of commercial activities. Above all, the long abandoned Birnin Gwari Road has come back to life. Similarly, Kidandan market in Giwa local government of Kaduna State, which had not been patronised for several years owing to insecurity, has been opened. Indeed, this marks the beginning of the return of peace and stability to Giwa local government.
Significantly, Governor Uba Sani has been embarking on a massive rural development by extending infrastructure development to all local government areas, with the goal of supporting rural communities to achieve rapid economic growth and development. In this regard, the Government has undertaken 68 road projects, covering a total of approximately 700 kilometres, across the three senatorial districts.
On Human Capital development, Governor Uba Sani has improved access to education and revived the health sector. So far, Kaduna State government has built 62 new secondary schools, comprising of 39 junior and 23 Senior Secondary schools across the three senatorial districts. Approval has been given to further construct 50 secondary schools across the state and upon completion these new schools are expected to enroll over 100,000 students. 2,000 qualified teachers have been recruited, awaiting deployment to these newly completed schools.
Prof Bello Ayuba added that the government has constructed 2,326 new classrooms, renovated 707 classrooms supplied 30,742 two-seater pupils’ furniture, provided 3,704 Teachers’ Furniture, constructed 918 VIP cubicle toilets and 51 hand pump boreholes in schools across the state.
Three Vocational and Technological Skills Acquisition Cities to equip youths with the requisite skills to enable them take up jobs in industries and other businesses. The Skills Cities will graduate at least 12,000 youths annually.
Government is remodeling the Panteka Market in Kaduna to become a major centre for skills acquisition, engaging over 38,000 artisans.
A comprehensive infrastructure upgrade is being carried out to make it an international center for skills acquisition and job creation. Besides, Kaduna State Government is collaborating with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to provide Nigerians Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) Certification for graduates of the skills cities and Panteka Market.
As regards health care Professor Bello Ayuba said the governor is
working day and night to complete the ultra – modern Specialist Hospital at Millennium City, Kaduna. On Wednesday, 27th November, 2024, the Governor commissioned the remodeled, upgraded and fully equipped Dabo Lere Memorial Hospital, Kaduna.
He has embarked on the remodeling, equipping and upgrading of 13 General Hospitals in the 3 Senatorial Zones of the State. This include General Hospital Gwantu, General Hospital Rigasa, General Hospital Maigana, and in Sanga, Igabi and Soba local governments respectively, as some of the hospitals that have been remodeled, equipped and upgraded.
Others are Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Kafanchan, in Jema local government;
General Hospital Giwa, in Giwa local government and Ikara General Hospital, located at kara local government. The rest are General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Chikun LGA; General Hospital Saminaka, Lere LGA, and General Hospital Kachia, Kachia LGA.
Governor Uba Sani has placed agriculture too, at the center of Kaduna State’s development agenda. In the last 18 months, Kaduna State has become a beacon of hope for smallholder farmers, an engine of economic growth, and a model of agricultural excellence. Under the remarkable palliative program, Sustainable Livelihoods through Social Interventions and Economic Empowerment, the Get Back to the Farm initiative has breathed new life into the agricultural sector. Government has distributed vital inputs-high-quality seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and farming equipment-to 41,693 smallholder farmers and cooperatives across all 23 LGAs. This initiative is a game-changer for our farmers, restoring their livelihoods and driving increased productivity across the state.
Significantly, the Uba Sani administration undertook the largest Free Fertilizer Distribution in Kaduna State’s history, with the distribution of 500 trucks of fertilizer from which 240,000 bags were given out free to 120,000 smallholder farmers. The Government has also invested heavily in both mechanization and micro-mechanization of the agricultural sector. Indeed, the last time the State invested in mechanization through the procurement of Tractors was in 2010 but this Government has procured 12 heavy-duty tractors that can handle large-scale commercial farming and complex and difficult farming operations.
Since he assumed office in May 2023, Governor Uba Sani has placed high premium on bringing succour to the poor, vulnerable and the underserved in Kaduna State. In this regard, he has been carrying out pro-poor measures to bring needed relief to Kaduna State citizens, first by signing an Executive Order on Financial Inclusion. By so doing, the Governor has shown commitment to addressing the exclusion of the poor, under-served and vulnerable from financial services and ensure that they benefit from social intervention programs of Kaduna State and the Federal Government.
The aim is to empower people with tools like savings accounts, credit, insurance, and digital payment options, enabling them to participate in the formal financial system, manage their finances, and build economic resilience.
Furthermore Kaduna State Government has forged a significant partnership with Google Africa for the ArewaTech4Ladies Skills Development Project.
Through this collaboration, it has empowered 5,000 women and girls with skills in data science, Artificial Intelligence and entrepreneurial applications of digital technologies. Through the Kaduna State Enterprise Development Agency (KADEDA), Government has supported 8,649 nano and micro businesses with grants to expand their business operations. The support ranged from N300,000, N200,000, N150,000, N100,000, to N50,000.
A poverty alleviation programme, “A Kori Talauchi programme” has empowered 4,912 underserved women across the state. Furthermore, Government has supported another 100 food vendors at the Kaduna Food Festival 2024, which took place from April 11th to 14th 2024 at Murtala Square, Kaduna. The festival was a vibrant celebration of the rich culinary diversity of Kaduna and Northern Nigeria, designed to showcase a spectrum of local culinary art and street food. The festival attracted more than 2,000 guests daily, providing women with the platform to showcase their local businesses.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has instituted Revolving Loan Scheme to enable civil servants to meet financial needs with seed funds of five hundred million Naira (N500,000,000) at a single – digit rate of five percent (5%). This initiative aims to promote access funds for civil servants to meet financial obligations. More so, the administration has been clearing pension arrears. The State Government has to date paid approximately four billion, seven hundred million Naira (N4.7 bn) for clearance of death and gratuity benefits.
Senator Uba Sani places great premium on accountability. Transparency and accountability are not principles to be trifled with. Last month, the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity Watch (CeFTP|W) ranked Kaduna State as the first subnational in its Transparency and Public Integrity Index. The ranking which was done for the entire 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, placed Kaduna State as number 1, with a score of 51. 42, in its 2024 Integrity Index Report.
CeFTPIW is a non-governmental organization established in 2016 to promote good governance, by strengthening transparency and accountability in public institutions and organizations. In addition, Kaduna State came second out of thirty six (36) states in the ICAN Accountability and Transparency Index, reflecting its commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective resource utilization.
In the last 18 months, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of Kaduna State has improved. Last November, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of all in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kaduna State raked in N62.49 billion last year, emerging the state with the highest IGR earnings in the north.
Governor Uba Sani’s policy of financial inclusion and widening the tax net as well as reorganizing the entire Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) is responsible for this feat. Since he came on board, KADIRS has been expanding the tax net in a horizontal manner as against the vertical approach of the past which led to stagnation. Above all, the policies of the Uba Sani administration which have a human face, have made businesses and companies that have left Kaduna State in the past, to return. Coupled with that, he has initiated a lot of business-friendly policies which are having positive impact on revenue generation. In addition, the rural transformation of the Kaduna State Government has improved voluntary tax compliance because people can see how their money is being spent.
Besides, KADIRS is effectively deploying technology in its operations to ensure effective service delivery to taxpayers.
A major component of the Uba Sani Governance Agenda is Nurturing Citizens Engagement, with a view to carrying the people along in decision making processes, especially on how their resources are allocated.
Consequently, the Government has been holding Town Hall Meetings and consultations with critical stakeholders like Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders, Elders/Influential Citizens, and Leaders of Women and Youth Groups, as well Development Organizations, on major Government policies and programmes, especially the yearly budget proposal.
Journalists also attested to some facts presented by Professor Bello Ayuba in the area of environmental cleanliness especially as regards Kaduna South. A particular spot noted for it’s ugly appearance in terms of refuse dump is now sparkling clean.
The Chairman of the KADUNA State NUJ Comrade Abdulgafar Alabelewe promised to pay a courtesy visit to his Excellency with his Executives very soon. He solicited that this briefing should be more constant to engage the journalists in their reportage. Further suggestions were made especially in the area of security to use the already built structures of past administration to station security personnel for prompt response when the need arises.
By Felix Sha’adu, Kaduna
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