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Why Kano population may hit 50 million by 2050–expert
Nasiru Yusuf
The population of Kano state may hit over 50 million people by 2050 due to high fertility rate and low practice of family planning in the state, an expert Habib Sadauki has warned.
Mr Sadauki, a consultant gynecologist, revealed this on Thursday during a consultative meeting on family planning organized by Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC).
He said currently, the use of modern contraceptive methods in the state stands at 5.8 percent, which is far below the national average.
The reproductive health expert recalled that family planning usage in Kano in 2013 was 1.3% but rose to 5.8% in 2018.
According to him two decades ago it was a taboo to discuss family planning in ministry of health, talk less of demanding for budgetary allocation.
Kano Focus reports that despite the shortage of contraceptive commodities and consumables in public hospitals, no budget was allocated to family planning in the 2020 Kano state appropriation law.
“Presently Kano has 5.8 fertility rate, which is above 5.3 national average. Based on this trend, the state population would be more than 50 million by 2050.
“The state government has anticipated the implication of this uncontrolled population growth and adopted free family planning services, national family planning costed implementation plan and integrated outreach,” Mr Sadauki said.
In a message sent to the conference, the director general of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Habu Gumel said the institute is collaborating with dRPC for advocacy to increase funding for family planning, routine immunization, ending child killer diseases and primary health care.
Mr Gumel, a professor of political science revealed that at current population rate, Nigeria will be among four most populous countries in the world by 2050 with estimated population of 289 million.
He noted that failure to address this challenge will be detrimental to any kind of economic development of initiatives to improve living condition of the citizens.
The director general emphasized the need for continuous engagement and dialogue on how to manage Nigeria’s population growth for sustainable development.
“In 2019, NIPSS and development research and project centre with support from Bill and Melinda Gates foundation collaborated in the implementation of the NIPSS senior executive course 41, with theme: funding universal healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The report was well received by President Muhammad Buhari and his cabinet last November with a pledge to implement the recommendation.
“This year 2020, President Buhari has mandated the senior executive course 42 of the national institute to conduct a study on population growth and the challenges of human capital development in Nigeria.
“There is no doubt that population issues are related to so many other issues such as demography, economics, education, human capital, urbanization, gender, religion, politics, food and nutrition, health and human rights. How a nation manages its population no doubt determines the level of its development,” Mr Gumel observed.
In his address, Ubale Rano an official of dRPC, said the meeting was to brainstorm and discuss the key emerging issues related to the adequacy of family planning funding in Kano state and the implication of the new practice of states being granted approval to procure commodities apart from the consumables they used to purchase.
Headlines
“As You Sow, So Shall You Reap”: Imam Reminds Muslims of Divine Justice
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Imam Nura Garba Mato has urged Muslims to remain conscious of their actions, saying that divine reward and punishment often correspond to the nature of people’s deeds.
KANO FOCUS reports that the imam made the call while delivering a Friday sermon at Jami’u Ansar wal Muhajirun Jumaa Mosque, Cotton Ginnery Layout, Zawaciki, Kano State.
The sermon, titled “Al-Jazā’u Min Jinsil-‘Amal” (Recompense Is According to the Nature of Deeds), focused on the Islamic teaching that people’s actions have consequences and that good deeds attract divine reward.
Imam Mato said Allah had established enduring principles in human life that do not change, urging Muslims to understand these principles and allow them to guide their conduct.
He explained that one of these principles was that recompense corresponds to the nature of one’s actions, stressing the importance of living righteously and fulfilling one’s responsibilities to Allah and fellow human beings.
The imam called on Muslims to observe *taqwa* (consciousness of Allah), remain steadfast in their faith and follow the teachings and traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He also highlighted the importance of helping people in difficulty, easing the burdens of others and showing compassion to fellow Muslims.
Quoting a prophetic tradition, the imam emphasised that whoever relieves a Muslim of a hardship in this world will receive relief from Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
He further explained that whoever conceals the faults of a fellow Muslim would receive Allah’s concealment of their faults on the Day of Resurrection, while those who make things easier for people in difficulty would receive Allah’s assistance in this world and the Hereafter.
The sermon also underscored the importance of supporting others, noting that a Muslim’s relationship with Allah should be reflected in their treatment of fellow human beings.
Imam Mato urged Muslims to reflect on their deeds and recognise that their conduct carries consequences, encouraging them to embrace good actions, assist those in need and uphold the teachings of Islam in their daily lives.
He stressed that Muslims should make righteousness, compassion and service to others central to their lives in pursuit of Allah’s pleasure and success in the Hereafter.
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Kano Govt Orders Retired Civil Servants to Vacate Offices, Hand Over Government Property
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Government has directed all civil servants who have attained their statutory retirement age or completed the required length of service to immediately vacate their offices and hand over government property in their possession.
KANO FOCUS reports that the directive was contained in Circular issued on Tuesday by the Establishment Directorate, Office of the Head of Civil Service, Kano State.
The circular, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment, Abba A. Danguguwa, on behalf of the Head of Civil Service, was titled: “Unauthorized Continuance in Service After Statutory Retirement by Civil Servants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government – Call for Immediate Handing Over of Official Documents, Properties.”
The government said it had observed that some civil servants continued to remain in office and operate in official capacities after reaching their statutory retirement period.
According to the circular, such conduct was a “negation to the reputation of the Civil Service of Kano State,” noting that the service had a long-standing tradition of ensuring seamless transition by retiring civil servants.
It described the continued stay in service after retirement as a direct infraction and aberration of relevant provisions of the State Civil Service Rules and other applicable service regulations.
The government stressed that it was legally and administratively untenable for any officer to remain in service or perform official functions beyond the statutory limit.
Consequently, all civil servants who had retired either by age or length of service were directed to immediately exit and hand over all official documents, government property and duties to their immediate subordinates in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.
The circular also directed all Accounting Officers, including Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives, as well as Directors of Administration and Personnel Management, to ensure strict and immediate compliance with the directive.
It warned that any officer found aiding, abetting or condoning the continued stay of a retired officer in service would face appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the Civil Service Rules.
The directive takes immediate effect, the circular stated.
Headlines
Kano Settles N32bn Pension, Gratuity Liabilities, Says Gov Yusuf
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf says his administration has settled approximately N32 billion out of the N48 billion inherited backlog of gratuities and related liabilities owed to retirees in the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that Gov Yusuf disclosed this on Thursday while addressing residents at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium in Kano.
The governor said the government had also sustained the regular payment of monthly pensions while increasing the minimum monthly pension from N5,000 to N20,000.
He said the welfare of workers and pensioners remained a priority of his administration, citing timely payment of salaries, improved remuneration and measures aimed at strengthening the public service.
According to him, the state has maintained the practice of paying workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month while implementing the N71,000 minimum wage for civil servants.
Gov Yusuf also said his administration was sponsoring public servants for professional training, including programmes at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), to strengthen their administrative and leadership capacity.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a professional and motivated workforce, while ensuring that the contributions and sacrifices of serving workers and retirees were recognised and treated with dignity.
