Headlines
Make KSCHMA enrollment prerequisite of company registration in Kano – NLC
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Kano state council Comrade Kabiru Inuwa has called on Kano state government to make it mandatory on private companies to enroll their employees before getting state registration.
KANO FOCUS reports that the NLC chairman made the call at a 3 day Consultative Workshop with Organised Private Sector (OPS) organised by Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency KSCHMA in
collaboration with FCDO Lafiya programme in Kaduna.

Comrade Kabiru Inuwa
Comrade Inuwa observed that in some states enrolment into healthcare contributory scheme is prerequisite of registering private companies.

He therefore advised KSCHMA to compel private health facilities to enroll their employees into contributory scheme.

Cross section of participants
Also speaking the Kano state chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Mubarak Baba said they would convey the meeting of their respective branches for further consultations.

Malam Abdulhamid Abubakar and Malam Sadiq Imam
He assured KSCHMA of their readiness to support its campaign on extending coverage to Organise Private Sector in the state.
In his submission the state chairman of Organise Private Sector (OPS) Comrade Hamza Adamu noted that most of the employees of private sector are yet to enroll into any healthcare scheme.

Some of the dignitaries at the event
He therefore advised KSCHMA to extend its coverage by registering employees of private sector.
On his part the state chairman of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Comrade Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo advised KSCHMA to reconstitute the monitoring team consist of its staff and labour unions to monitor the accredited health facilities under the scheme.

Cross section of participants
According to him this will checkmate their activities and improve service delivery.
Earlier, Dr Saidu Muhammad who wrote the first council memo on state contributory healthcare scheme acknowledged the role of labour unions in the establishment of KSCHMA.

Dr Saidu Muhammad
He therefore appealed to union leaders to support KSCHMA in bringing organise private sector into the scheme.
239,968 enrollees treated for malaria under KSCHMA scheme in 3 months
The Executive Secretary of Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency KSCHMA Dr Rahila Mukhtar said so far 239,968 enrollees had received malaria treatment under its scheme in the first quarter of 2024.

Dr Rahila Mukhtar
The Executive Secretary added that 27,887 others had received typhoid treatment at different health facilities under state contributory healthcare scheme during the period under review.
According to her the enrollees have utilised 3,160 normal deliveries, 103 Ceasarian Section (CS), 14,777 Antenatal Care (ANC) and 162 Obstetric Scan in the first quarter of 2024.

Cross section of participants
She recalled that the enrollees have utilised more than 900,00 different services under the scheme in 2023.
Commenting on the workshop, Dr Rahila Mukhtar said it was organized to acquaint the participants with the state contributory health scheme and highlight its benefits over other plans.
In his address the representatives of FCDO Lafiya Programme Malam Abdulhamid Abubakar expressed the commitment of FCDO Lafiya in supporting KSCHMA’s drive to enroll and provide health coverage to all the residents of Kano State as enshrined in KSCHMA law.

Malam Abdulhamid Abubakar
“Our dream at FCDO Lafiya Programme is to see all Kano residents have access to quality healthcare services through KSCHMA to reduce out of pocket expenditure on health. “And reduce the maternal and under five mortality deaths due to lack of access to healthcare services.”
On his part Malam Shuaibu Ahmad Indabawa said the enrollment of employees into KSCHMA scheme will reduce companies medical bill beside ensuring a healthy workforce.
Other benefits of the enrollment according to him include convenient budgeting and payment of medical expenses.
Headlines
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, three others recommended for appointment as Kano high court judges
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Nafisah Yusuf Hassan, a magistrate in Kano State, has been recommended for appointment as a judge of the Kano State High Court by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
KANO FOCUS reports that Hassan is among four judicial officers from Kano State recommended for elevation to the High Court bench out of 28 candidates selected nationwide.
The other nominees are Halima Yahuza Ahmad, Abdullahi Abdulsalam Bature and Musa Ibrahim Umar.
The NJC disclosed the recommendations in a statement issued by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, following its consideration of candidates for judicial appointments across the country.
The council said all recommended candidates were expected to be sworn in by their respective state governors without delay.
Hassan’s recommendation follows her years of service in the Kano State judiciary, where she has reportedly distinguished herself through diligence, professionalism and careful handling of cases.
She has been commended for her commitment to judicial ethics, diligence and fairness in the discharge of her responsibilities, achievements that contributed to her career progression within the judiciary.
Her elevation is part of a broader development in the Kano State judiciary, with four magistrates from the state successfully scaling the selection process for appointment to the High Court.
The four nominees were reportedly assessed during the selection exercise and demonstrated strong professional competence, while their service records were found to be free of adverse remarks.
Their recommendation marks a significant step in their judicial careers and is expected to strengthen the judicial workforce in Kano State upon their formal appointment.
Headlines
K-SAFE tracks nearly 1,000 education projects in Kano, seeks procurement monitoring role
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Kano State Accountability Forum on Education (K-SAFE) says it has tracked nearly 1,000 education projects across the state as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and effective service delivery in the education sector.
KANO FOCUS the coalition’s Co-Chair, Dr Auwalu Halilu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the Kano State Ministry of Public Procurement and Project Monitoring.
Dr Halilu said K-SAFE had monitored projects in more than six local government areas, covering interventions implemented by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kano State Senior Secondary Education Management Board and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He explained that the monitoring exercise involved physical inspections and documentation of projects through photographs, videos and geographical locations.
According to him, reports of the findings had been submitted to relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), highlighting projects that met required standards and those requiring further attention.
He cited Rimin Gado Local Government Area, where the coalition tracked more than 80 education projects, adding that it planned to extend the exercise to all 44 local government areas of the state.
The K-SAFE Co-Chair said the visit was aimed at presenting the coalition’s activities to the ministry and exploring areas of collaboration in procurement and project monitoring.
He called for the inclusion of civil society organisations in procurement and monitoring processes, particularly tender board activities and field inspections, to strengthen independent oversight and provide them with firsthand information on government projects.
Dr Halilu also requested the ministry’s support in organising capacity-building programmes for civil society organisations on procurement procedures, due process, project standardisation, monitoring and evaluation.
He said such training would enhance civil society organisations’ understanding of procurement regulations and the technical requirements guiding project implementation.
Responding, the Commissioner for Public Procurement and Project Monitoring, Dr Nura Iro Ma’aji, welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the coalition’s contributions to supporting the state government’s efforts in the education sector.
He expressed the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with K-SAFE through information sharing and other relevant engagements to strengthen accountability and ensure compliance with due process.
“From our side, we are ready to work together because we know what they have been doing to support Kano State Government in the education sector,” he said.
Dr Halilu further disclosed that the coalition and its partner organisations had carried out the monitoring exercise without financial sponsorship, describing it as a demonstration of their commitment to transparency and accountability.
He reaffirmed K-SAFE’s commitment to sustaining engagement with relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to strengthen oversight of education projects across Kano State.
Headlines
GSS Army Day Bukavu Wins Maiden Kano Secondary Schools Tug of War Championship
Ibrahim Khalil
Government Secondary School (GSS) Army Day Bukavu has emerged champion in both the male and female categories of the maiden Kano State Secondary Schools Tug of War Competition.
KANO FOCUS reports that the school clinched the double victory at the competition, which ended on Wednesday at the Kano Pillars Stadium, Sabon Gari, Kano.
Governors College finished as runners-up in the male category, while Government Girls College (GGC) Kano secured second position in the female category.
The competition was organised by the Kano State Tug of War Association in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Kano State Sports Commission.
The maiden championship brought together secondary school students to promote teamwork, discipline, unity and sportsmanship, while raising awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Jamilu Uba Adamu, described the competition as a successful initiative that had achieved its objectives.
He commended the Ministry of Education, Sports Commission, NDLEA, Gongoni Company Limited and MAGZO Pharmaceutical for supporting the event, particularly through the provision of T-shirts and Pocari Sweat drinks.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the Kano State Tug of War Association, Bashir Muhammad Sulaiman, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to developing grassroots and school sports.
He said the initiative would help identify and nurture young sporting talents across the state.
The closing ceremony was attended by a member of the Kano State Football Association Board, Rilwanu Idris Malikawa Garu, representatives of the Ministry of Education, NDLEA, the Sports Commission and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The organisers congratulated the winning schools and commended all participating institutions and partners for contributing to the success of the maiden edition.
