Headlines
Pantami receives National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 Report
Nasiru Yusuf
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has received the draft report of the National Broadband Plan Committee 2020-2025.
The report was presented to him in his office by the Chairman of the Committee, Ms Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), MainOne Cable.
The Committee is co-chaired by Dr. Bashir Gwandu, former Executive Commissioner Technical Services at Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), while Engr. Ubale Maska, NCC’s Executive Commissioner Technical Services is the Secretary of the Committee.
In attendance at the presentation ceremony were members of the Committee including the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Dambatta was also present at the event.
Dr. Pantami first inaugurated the Committee on 16 December 2019 to develop a new National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 that will be a guiding template for further development of the telecommunications sector.
This followed the expiration of the 2013-2018 National Broadband Plan which was designed to achieve at least 30 percent broadband penetration in Nigeria.
At the expiration of the old plan, Nigeria had achieved 37.8 percent broadband coverage.
At the inauguration of the new NBP Committee, Pantami also urged the members to review the old plan, examine its challenges and proffer solutions.
He equally urged the committee to undertake the assignment in the context of growing and emerging technologies.
The new broadband plan, being developed with the support and collaboration of the Government of the United Kingdom (UK), is expected to increase broadband penetration to 70 percent by 2025 in order to give concrete expression to Federal Government’s commitment to making Nigeria a truly digital economy.
It will be recalled that on January 3, 2020, while engaging the Nigerian press at a Media Briefing and Chat, Dr. Pantami promised that the report of the new NBP Committee will be ready in the first quarter of the year 2020.
Nasiru Yusuf
Kano State government has demanded a one per cent special status in the Federal revenue allocation formula.
KANO FOCUS reports that the demand was made in a memorandum presented by the Secretary to the State Government and head of Kano state delegation, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, (Wazirin Gaya), during the North West Zonal Public Hearing on the review of the current vertical revenue allocation formula organized by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission in Kaduna on Monday.
Alhaji Alhaji noted that the demand is genuine, justifiable and in no way controversial considering the enormous responsibilities the state is currently shouldering due to high influx of people displaced or affected by insecurity in neighboring states including Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and others.
He also highlighted the status of the state as the most populous in the country, its cosmopolitan and heterogeneous nature as “mini Nigeria”, as well as being the commercial hub for the north that attracts and accommodates people from all parts of the country and beyond, as other reasons for the demand.
The Secretary to the State Government therefore urged the federal government to positively consider the special status demand so as to support the development of Kano particularly in the areas of agriculture, trade and commerce and manufacturing as “it will translate into rapid development for the country generally.
“Our reasons are for the development of Nigeria as a whole”. He added.
The SSG further noted that the current revenue sharing formula is skewed largely in favour of the federal government to the detriment of states and local governments as the federating units, which he described as uneven, unfair and unjust.
He noted that the decision of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to review the current revenue sharing formula, in line with its statutory constitutional responsibilities, is commendable as it is long overdue in view of the changing political, economic, social and ecological realities in the country.
Alhaji Usman Alhaji further noted that despite taking the lion’s share, the federal government could not effectively and adequately discharge most of its responsibilities in states, like ensuring security and provision of healthcare services which, he said, were left for the states to take care of.
” The insecurity and violence in the North can be link to the uneven distribution of the national wealth. …Some have too little while others have too much to spend. As federating units, no one should be left in dare need “, he added.
While noting that states spend more than the federal government on healthcare and other services in addition to huge expenditure for the police and DSS, he suggested that states should have larger share in the revenue allocation formula.
The SSG therefore, on behalf of Kano State Government, proposed a new sharing formula of 41 percent for Federal Government, 34 percent for states and 24 percent for local governments while the 13 percent derivation should be maintained.
The Kano State delegation to the North West Zonal public hearing comprise commissioners, Special Advisers, top civil servants, traditional leaders, representatives of CSOs, NGOs and students organizations.
Other states that presented memoranda at the occasion include Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
Hukumar Hisbah ta ce za ta bude makarantar koyon zamantakewar aure a Jihar Kano cikin , a watan Nuwambar wannan shekara.
KANO FOCUS ta ruwaito babban kwamandan hukumar, Muhammad Haruna Sani Ibn Sina ne ya bayyana hakan a zantawarsa da gidan rediyon Freedom.
Ibn Sina ya ce, a matakin farko zabi ne ga wanda ke da sha’awar shiga, amma a nan gaba za su yi kokarin ganin an mayar da shi doka ga duk mai son yin aure a Kano.
“Kaso 75 daga cikin korafin da mu ke karba kan matsalolin aure ne, wannan ne ya sanya muka samar da makarantar don ba da horo.
“Matsalar yawaitar mutuwar aure a kullum karuwa take musamman a Kano, don haka makarantar za ta samar da hanyoyin dabarun koyar da ilimin zamantakewar aure,” cewar Ibn Sina.
Kazalika, kwamandan ya kara da cewa za su shigar da kudiri gaban majalisar dokokin Jihar don tilasta wa ma’aurata shiga makarantar.
Ibn Sina, ya kuma kara da cewa horaswar ba iya mata za ta tsaya ba, har da maza za a basu damar shiga don samun daidaito da raguwar matsalolin.
Matsalar aure a Jihar Kano na ci gaba da zama babbar kalubale musamman kan yadda Hisbah ke fama wajen warware su.
Nasiru Yusuf
Governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has offered a teaching job to a blind person, Dahuru Abdulhamid Idris, who has been teaching voluntarily.
KANO FOCUS reports Ganduje has directed that Mr Idris to be deployed to Tudun Maliki Special Education School.
“You are a role model, whose visual impairment does not stand as a stumbling block for your development.
“You are taking the right step in your life. The Kano state government is giving you automatic employment of teaching. And I have directed the state Commissioner of Education to post you to Tudun Maliki Special Education School.” He said
It will be recalled that Daily Trust Newspaper did a comprehensive report of the Blind person and his Contributions to his Community despite his disability.
The report attracted a lot of comments and Sympathy from different people.
YMU honours minister of humanitarian, SAS Galadanci, BUA
Revenue sharing formula: Kano demands 1% allocation, increase for states and LGAs
Hisba za ta tilastawa ma’aurata shiga makarantar nazarin zamantakewar aure a Kano
Kano Govt offers employment to blind volunteer teacher
Dalilin da ya sa muke Maulidin shan kauri – Alkarmawi
Emir’s Rolls Royce: Kano Emrate refutes story linking purchase to BUA
Breaking: EFCC Arrests Ganduje’s Wife
Saudi Airlines resumes operation at Aminu Kano International Airport
Aminu Ado Bayero appointed chancellor of Al-Istikama University
