Headlines
PERL: Citizen groups holds annual Constituency Influence Assessment in Kano
Nasiru Yusuf
Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and other citizens groups have conducted annual Constituency Influence Assessment (CIA), with the support of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL).
KANO FOCUS reports that the annual assessment examines the level of citizens engagement, representation and inclusion in improving good governancee and service delivery.
Commenting on the exercise, The Co-Chairperson Girls Education Partnership who double as Chief Executive of Adolescent Health and Information Project (AHIP), Hajiya Mairo Bello said the Partnership has succeeded in domesticating Kano Girls Education Policy and Teacher Policy aimed at ensuring quality assurance and continued professional development to uplift educational standards.
Comrade Abdurrazak Zango and Hajiya Mairo Bello
Also speaking Hadiza Sani Gadanya of Federal College of Education Kano identified the release of twelve million Naira for the repair of 17 girls school buses.
According to her another the salient achievements recorded was the approval to recruit one hundred female teachers under the state ministry of local government.
Participants at the event
The education group expressed optimism in ensuring qualitative education, for girls that is well grounded for better human resources.
On the thematic areas accessed by the health group, Head of Programmes Express Radio Kano, Hajiya Nafisa Murtala Ahmad enumerated that tremendous achievements were recorded in the health sector, including enrollment of PWDs into the basic healthcare provision fund (BCHPF), as well as engagement of civil society organizations, to work with two gateway committees to promote quality healthcare delivery.
Hajiya Nafisa Murtala Ahmad making a point
She stressed that, state actors work together with citizens where they visit facilities and identify loopholes in services offered by MDAs and agencies, for government to take necessary action.
Speaking on the same thematic area Salisu Yusuf of Partnership for the Promotion of Maternal and Child Health said citizens engagement with government has led to increased enrollment of Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) beneficiaries from 79,000 to over 84,0000 across the state.
Participants at the event
According to him the partnership has strengthen engagement with Ward Development Committees (WDCs) at community level in mobilising beneficiaries at remote places.
Akibu Hamisu Garko of Kano budget working group, noted that open society group laid emphasis on budgeting, representation and inclusion at the local government level among others.
Comrade Akibu Hamisu
He stressed that, one of the key reforms in the sector is the passage and assenting to the Kano state public financial management law, audit law and procurement law, which greatly impacted on the state procurement process, where contractors and service providers can be held accountable with legal backing.
The main assessment approach involves, partners reflecting on the extent of citizens influence using three categories of indices, namely citizens engagement, citizens representation, and citizens inclusion, guided by a standard tool.
Participants at the event
The 2022/2022 CIA session facilitated by PERL(ECP) witnessed large turn out citizen groups including representatives of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), Civil Society Organisations, Girls Education Partnership (GEP), journalists and all relevant stakeholders in Kano.
Participants at the event
The Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) is now a seven year (2016-2023) public sector reform programme helping governments and citizens to work together to improve service delivery, including ending preventable deaths and funding for basic education through better policymaking, planning, budgeting, project monitoring and accountability.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has vowed to appeal the judgement of the governorship election tribunal which nullified his election and declared the APC candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawauna as the winner.
KANO FOCUS reports that Yusuf made the declaration on Wednesday night, while making a broadcast to the people of the state.
He said his legal team had been directed to appeal the judgement at the court of appeal in order to reclaim the mandate given to him by the people of the State.
He, therefore, Called on the good people of the state to remain calm and continue to be law abiding as security agents have been directed to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizens.
“Let me assure you that the this government would continue to work for the development of the people of the state as the judgement will never dampen our spirit or discourage us from the good work we have started.” he said.
The Governor, who thanked the people of the state for their continued support and cooperation, urged them to go about with normal activities.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Tuesday, said that Kano State has recorded 5,800 suspected cases of Diphtheria from January to date.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Head, UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Mr Rahama Mohammned-Farah, stated this in Kano during a one-day media orientation on Diphtheria outbreak.
The UN Agency said the cases were recorded in 39 local government areas of the state.
According to him, Kano State has the highest number of recorded cases in the country, adding that Diphtheria was a highly contagious and infectious disease that could cause death.
Mohammned-Farah stressed that proactive measures were necessary to stem the outbreak.
“Recently, we have seen a surge in the number of reported Diphtheria cases in Nigeria, and Nigeria is currently facing an outbreak that needs to be stopped and prevented.
“As of July, Diphtheria cases have been on the rise. As of last week, over 400 suspected cases with 11 deaths have been reported in Kano.
“Out of the 39 LGAs affected, eight are the most affected, including Ungogo with 2,651 cases; Dala 989, Fagge 943, Gwale 714, Kumbotso 713, Nasarawa 538, Kano Municipal 506 and Tarauni 269,” he said.
He said that 60.8 per cent of the suspected cases had been reported in children not vaccinated, which reinforced the critical need to address the issue of zero doses, especially in Kano State.
“UNICEF delivered 1.2 million vaccines to the Kano State Government in our continuing support to the government response to Diphtheria outbreak.
“Diphtheria outbreak is a threat to child survival, health and the wellbeing of children. UNICEF is collaborating with government and partners to respond to the emergency to save the lives of children affected.
“In Kano state, UNICEF supported Tetanus-Diphtheria reactive vaccination campaigns in February, April and August, vaccinating 23,200 children in round one.
“While 277,796 children vaccinated in round two and 29,500 others in round-3 of the exercise.
“We engaged 150 traditional leaders on Diphtheria outbreak and distribution of Diphtheria IEC materials, and deployed 1,500 VCMs to the worst affected LGAs to conduct house-to-house sensitisations and referral of suspected cases to health facilities.
“Media has a key role to play particularly in infection prevention, and risk communication and community engagement,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Muhammad Nasir-Mahmoud, the Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, said the state government had adopted drastic measures to curtail spread of the disease.
“We are committed towards educating the public about what is happening and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has promised that Kano will be accorded priority in terms of vaccine distribution,” he said.
While describing the media as partners in the fight against Diphtheria, Nasir-Mahmoud urged them to support the campaign against the disease.
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Interparty Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) has urged the judges of the Kano election petition tribunal court to discharge its duties with utmost integrity and impartiality.
KANO FOCUS reports that this was contained in a statement issued by the organization secretary Kano chapter Nuhu Idris on Tuesday.
IPAC also called upon the tribunal to consider each case diligently and ensure that all the parties involved are given equal opportunities to present their argument and evidence.
It could be recalled that the election tribunal has fixed Wednesday 20th September 2023 to deliver judgment on APC’s petition against Abba Kabir Yusuf.
A hearing notice issued by the Secretary of the election petition tribunal on Monday said the judgment would be delivered at 9.00 a.m., at the High Court of Miller Road in Kano.
Mr Idris said the organization has acknowledged the importance of the electoral process in a democratic society, where the voice and choice of the people are paramount.
He said the ongoing legal proceedings before the tribunal are a testament to the vibrancy of democracy and the resolve of citizens to seek redress through legal means.
“IPAC firmly believes that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done.
“We, Therefore, implore the tribunal to maintain transparency in its proceedings allowing the public and all concerned parties to have confidence in the outcome of the legal process, the statement said.
He added that it is essential that the tribunal’s decisions are guided by the rule of law and the facts presented, rather than any external influence.
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