Lukman Abdulmalik
The Vice-Chancellor Bayero University Kano, BUK, in collaboration with its partners, Stallion Times and Non-Governmental Organizations on Wednesday organized a townhall meeting tagged ‘The first 100 Days of Kano State Government in Office: Achievements and Challenges’ of the administration of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Other partners are CITAD, PERL, ARTV, NUJ, Kano Focus, Rahma Radio and Television, Kano Charter, FOMWAN, Hasken Kano, Freedom 99.5 FM, CAGSI, Express 90.3 FM, United State Institute of Peace, Nawoj, Charity and Vulnerable Support Initiative, KASTU, and Gashash Foundation.
Stallion Times reports that the Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Kano, organized a town hall meeting for all participating gubernatorial candidates to showcase their blueprints and entertain questions from citizens ahead of the 2023 general elections.
In a welcoming remark, Professor Abdullahi Sule Kano, who represented the Vice Chancellor of BUK, Professor Sagir Abbas said: “This is a historic event to discuss about the State Government commitments in office for the first 100 days.
“The essence of the 100 days in office is to create unforgettable achievements that will benefit the citizens forever.”
Chairman of the occasion, Gidado Mukthar, Director General, of Kano Peace and Development Initiative, said the government must tell the people what it has done in the past 100 days.
“Informing the people about the activities creates a mutual understanding between the government and its citizens, and also tells the public about the next steps.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Baffa Bichi, who represented the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, presented a paper on the first 100 days in office, highlighting remarkable achievements by the government.
Bichi highlighted that it is impossible to achieve all government promises in 100 days.
“We met the government in a very disorganized structure.
“After declaration, the government observed a series of corruption practices done by the previous administration, such as encroachment of lands and properties, siphoning of public funds and others.”
Expressing the Government’s achievements, Bichi revealed: “During our campaign, we have promised to provide students a scholarship to study overseas for their master’s degree.
“However, the State Government in its 100 days in office has approved 1,001 first-class students to study abroad.
“Currently 5,50 have been shortlisted, their admission has been processed and all payments have been made.”
“Free maternal and child healthcare has started in Kano Government Hospitals.
“Our promise of a mass wedding of widows has also been achieved. Part of what we provide for them includes furniture, capital to start a small-scale business, and other necessary items like couples need.”
On road projects, the SSG also highlighted that the Jakara River project, a road from Kwanar Salga to Goron Dutse has been completed.
“All 5 km roads in Kano have 44 LGAs which were abandoned, currently contractors have resumed construction in 23 LGAs while the rest of the 21 LGAs will soon commence construction,” he added.
Abandoned projects
Bichi also revealed projects abandoned by the past administration which the present government has inherited and also undergoing construction.
He said: “Abandoned projects are a waste of government funds.
“Part of the abandoned projects we met include; 44 Schools of Islamic Studies and 44 Schools of Science and Technical, not more than 10 out of those schools were completed while some have been dashed out.
“However, those abandoned schools are currently undergoing construction for our students to benefit and resume learning.”
He also added that: “abandoned Primary Healthcare centers are also undergoing construction while the completed ones are about to start operating fully.”
New Projects
Bichi also revealed that the government has created new projects which are about to kick start.
He said part of the projects is the construction of 75 Government Girls Junior Secondary Schools and 55 Government Girls Senior Secondary Schools to improve girl-child education.
“52 schools are currently undergoing comprehensive renovation.
“Before the end of our first tenure,e no student will learn on the bare floor again, currently over 100,000 furniture are with contractors.”
While on health, Bichi also narrated that “Both our General and Specialist Hospitals are in bad condition. We are accessing the hospitals for renovation, while the ones in the metropolis are already undergoing renovation.
“We also observed that in 44 LGAs there are no qualified medical doctors.
“The State Government has recently declared that all the hospitals in 44 LGAs must have not less than three qualified doctors, while 200 new doctors will soon be employed.”
Other achievements
The SSG, Bichi highlighted that the State Government has paid N712 million for over 7,000 students.
He added “We are about reopening closed schools while those that were de-boarded will be re-boarded.
“The Government has also given N20,000 to 18,000 female students.
“We also provided 44,000 free school uniforms, bags, and sandals for students.
“1 million Math, English text and exercise books were also provided for students in 44 LGAs.
On subsidy, Bichi explained that the government has provided 89 trailers containing bags of rice to be shared among 565 beneficiaries in each LGA and 150 trailers of bags of maize to be shared among 330 beneficiaries across the LGAs.
“We have inaugurated a palliative committee to regulate the activities of the distribution.
In the discussion session, Professor Kamilu Sani Fagge, lecturer at the Department of Political Science, BUK, advised the State Government to address the issue of abject poverty, unemployment, and youths abusing drugs.
He also noted that the State government should look into the matter of tuition fees, and also develop in-house universities rather than developing overseas.
Prof. Fagge also cautioned the State Government that “not only provision of furniture, also teachers should be strengthened and teaching materials should be provided.”
Amb. Ibrahim Waiya, a discussant at the event stressed that the government should provide a committee that will enlighten the public on the activities of the government.
He advised that appointments should be based on merit without any form of bias.
In his votes of thanks, by Prof. Habu Mohammad, Director of Mumbayya House appreciates the participants and other partners who worked tirelessly to organize the event.
The highlight of the event was the questions and answers session.
