Headlines
May Day: Kano State Government to Launch Housing Scheme for Workers
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.
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has debunked reaching a resolution with any individual on the trending defection rumoured to the ruling party or any other political party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Kwankwaso, who considered the recent statement credited to have suggested a particular position as an imagination of falsehood and fragmentation of political mischief against him.
A statement posted on his official X handle @KwankwasoRM, the ex-Governor insisted he has since refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and will continue to do so for the time being.
In the said false information that went viral, Kwankwaso was quoted to have revealed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on multiple occasions, urging him to return to the APC fold.
Responding to a statement purportedly signed by one Ibrahim Rabiu, Sen. Kwankwaso insisted he had never signed or authorised any statement to be issued on his behalf.
“My attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly stating my position on the recurring political realignments. I wish to categorically state that such statements are false, unfounded, and products of political mischief.
“I have refrained from commenting on contemporary political events, and I will continue to do so for the time being.”
” I urge the public to only engage statements that come from my public handles and other official sources”. Kwankwaso RM.”
In a releted development, the author of the purported false statement Ibrahim Rabiu has issued a self counter, denouncing the statement as a work of devil.
“I Ibrahim Rabiu, wish to inform the general public that I was never authorised by Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso to issue and release a statement on his belhalf”
“I therefore wish to tender a public apology to his person with a promise that such childish act will never be repeated in the future, please find a space in your heart to forgive me, I was misled by fake news and agents of misinformation”
The Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammad Sunusi II, commended the Adolescent Girls Initiatives for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project for reenrolling over 30,000 adolescent girls and renovating more than 1,300 schools across the state.
KANO FOCUS reports that the Emir made the commendation while reeiving AGILE State Project Implementation Unit (SIPU) who paid him an advocacy visit recently.
Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi ll
He emphasized the Kano Emirate Council’s commitment to advocating for education and pledged continued support to ensure the enrollment, retention, transition, and completion of girls’ education in Kano.
The Emir also emphasized the importance of collaboration and synergy in implementing policies and programs that foster the development of the state and the nation at large.
AGILE Project Coordinator presenting gift to Emir of Kano
He expressed satisfaction with the AGILE project’s strong monitoring and evaluation framework, particularly in tracking the use of grants and conditional cash transfers.
In his remarks, the Kano State AGILE Coordinator, Malam Mujtapha Aminu said more than 100,000 students are currently enrolled in learning centers across 23 local government areas under the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) second chance education in Kano.
AGILE PC and Emir of Kano
He said this initiative provides out-of-school adolescent girls an opportunity to complete their secondary education, gain entrepreneurship and life skills.
According to him, the second chance education students undergo literacy, numeracy, and entrepreneurship training across 5,000 learning centers.
Athletes who participated in AGILE WEEK Games
He further explained that after nine months of instruction, the students sit for examinations and are awarded certificates equivalent to the Junior Secondary School Certificate.
“Those who enroll in the advanced literacy program also have the opportunity to sit for national examinations such as NECO and WAEC,” he added.
He said they visited the Emir’andalace to seek blessings and advocate for support to achieve their goals.
AGILE Communications Officer and games officials
The AGILE Project is a World Bank-assisted initiative implemented through Federal and State Ministries of Education, aimed at improving secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria.
The gale of defection from opposition political parties intensifies as two members of the opposition New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Abdullahi Sani Rogo and Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
KANO FOCUS reports that both lawmakers represent Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya and Karaye/Rogo federal constituency of Kano State.
Both lawmakers announced their defection at plenary presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.
On hand to witness the defection on the floor of the House was the national chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, accompanied by some members of the national working committee of the party.
However, the Minority Whip, Isa Ali JC, faulted the defection of the lawmakers on the basis that it was against constitutional provisions.
As of Thursday, no fewer than 30 members of opposition political parties have dumped their parties to join the APC.
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