Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim

The Kano State Government has organised a special training for newly-appointed education secretaries as part of a renewed effort to overhaul the sector.

KANO FOCUS reports that the training was conducted with the support of Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE) in Dutse, Jigawa State.

Speaking at the occasion the commissioner of education Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa urged the education secretaries to uphold the state’s education standards diligently, emphasising their pivotal role as government representatives in their respective areas.

He specifically cautioned against the arbitrary transfer of teachers to the state capital for personal reasons.

The commissioner identified inadequate teachers and learning materials as the primary challenges confronting education in Kano.

However, he assured that the government is fully committed to restructuring the sector to tackle these issues effectively.

In his address the Executive Chairman of the Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Yusuf Kabir, emphasised the urgency of addressing issues like low school enrollment, teacher and student absenteeism, and insufficient community involvement and support.

Kabir also acknowledged the shortage of qualified teachers and the lack of commitment among non-teaching staff at the Local Education Authority (LEA) headquarters.

Mukhtar Yahya Usman

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has announced that his administration is set to initiate a housing scheme to provide decent and affordable shelter for workers in the state under the National Housing Fund Scheme.

KANO FOCUS reports that the governor made this disclosure during the International Workers’ Day celebrations held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, on May 1, 2024.

Represented by his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, the Governor explained that the state government is ready to provide land for the construction of the houses as soon as stakeholders involved in the process conclude discussions.

In a press statement issued to newsmen by the Deputy Governor’s Spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, Governor Yusuf proudly declared Kano as the ancestral home of May Day in Nigeria, while assuring his administration’s commitment to pursuing policies and programs that motivate the working class to render quality service for the development of the state.

He highlighted several achievements of his administration, including:

– Prompt payment of salaries and pensions

– Release of Six billion Naira for settlement of workers’ Gratuities

– Renovation of offices

– Resumption/payment of monthly operational funds across government agencies

– Resumption of regular promotions

– Recruitment of fresh workers

– Screening and confirmation of 10,000 workers out of 13,000 employed by the previous administration

– Provision of 5 trucks of 25kg rice to civil servants as a Ramadan gesture to cushion the pain of global economic hardship

– Provision of sustainable basket funds for workers’ capacity building

– Provision of a sickbay at Audu Bako Secretariat for the well-being of workers and their families

While maintaining that his administration had accorded priority to the development of education, agriculture, and healthcare, among other services, the Governor appealed to workers to reciprocate the gesture through commitment and dedication to duty.

Earlier in his remarks, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, congratulated the Governor on his victory at the Supreme Court, which affirmed his election.

Comrade Inuwa, however, stressed that the NLC needs timely intervention on the issue of the backlog of unremitted pension contributions by some organizations, with a staggering accumulation of over 75 billion as of May 2023, which poses a serious threat to the financial security of retirees.

He also requested that the payment of wage awards, which were only paid once, needs to be revisited, saying that workers rely on the awards to improve their standard of living, and that a consistent payment schedule shall be established to safeguard their welfare.

Comrade Inuwa emphasized the need to constitute a Governing Board for the state pension contributory scheme, implementation of local government autonomy, and reintroduction of vehicle loans for civil servants, among other demands.

Mukhtar Yahya Usman

The judicial commission of inquiry on public properties and assets established by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State to probe the previous administration led by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has scheduled its inaugural session for Monday, 29th April 2024.

The commission’s secretary, Salisu Mustapha, said this in a letter addressed to the Director General Media and Publicity on Saturday.

Mustapha specified that the session will take place at High Court No. 3 within the Audu Bako Secretariat.

Earlier this month, Governor Yusuf inaugurated two judicial commissions of inquiry (JCI) to investigate instances of misappropriation of public properties and assets, political violence, and missing persons between 2015 and 2023.

During the inauguration of the JCI members, Governor Yusuf pledged to hold accountable anyone found culpable, emphasizing his commitment to uncovering and prosecuting those responsible for political violence in the state before and during previous elections.

The governor urged the Commission to thoroughly investigate cases of misappropriated public properties and assets during the tenure of immediate past administration.

He instructed the commission members to uphold their integrity, remain true to their oath, and serve the people of Kano State by ensuring justice is served. Governor Yusuf clarified that the initiative was not politically motivated or directed at any individual but rather a response to the mandate of the people of Kano State.

You may recalled that credible Justices of the State High Courts, Farouq Lawan Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf a long with other eminent personalities were selected and appointed as chairmen and members of the two commissions of inquiry respectively.