BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai says despite evident challenges of governance, the All Progressives Congress (APC) will not relent in its hard work to justify the people’s confidence in the current administration.
In a statewide broadcast to mark the 2018 Democracy Day in Kaduna State, Governor el-Rufai said notwithstanding the constraints of lean finances, the state government will continue to do its utmost best to deliver on its promises, especially as they relate to completion of projects.
“With all humility, I state today that our APC Kaduna team will continue to work hard to justify the people’s confidence. Despite the constraints of tight finances, we will continue to do our utmost to complete our projects. Our commitment to promote equality of opportunity will not waver.
“As diligent custodians of a popular mandate, we have been inspired to do what is necessary, significant and consequential in the interest of our people.”
According to him, the government has, in the last three years, reduced the cost of running government, adding; “We have placed the interest of the people at the heart of our governance agenda. We introduced the Treasury Single Account, commenced Zero-based budgeting and aligned the fiscal and calendar years.
“Our budgets consistently allocate at least 60% of revenues for capital projects and we have in each of our two full budgets attained unprecedented levels of capital spending. We introduced a new Contributory Pension Scheme on 1st January 2017.
“We have recently announced pensioners on the defined benefits scheme will no longer have to face arduous physical verification. Rather, from June 2018, all what they need to do to verify their status is to visit a bank once every 90 days and submit a thumbprint.”
Furthermore, the governor explained that; “We have completed the 150m litres per day water treatment plant of the Zaria Water project and launched the Kaduna State Water Corporation on a significant reform programme. By the grace of God, the reservoirs, transmission and distribution pipework will be completed this year to provide water to all nooks and crannies of Zaria metropolis.
“We will advance the project to upgrade the 255 Primary Health Centres, 23 rural hospitals and various general hospitals. We intend to renovate more schools, complete township roads and continue the programme to retrofit waterworks across the state and improve water supply.
Additionally, he stated that; “The cash cover programme for our senior citizens is already operational, enabling them to settle the cost of being treated for diabetes and hypertension. Dialysis continues to be subsidised for the benefit of our citizens dealing with renal challenges”, even as, “Routine immunisation of our infants remains an overarching priority. Ante-natal and post-natal treatment for pregnant women and children below five years of age is free in our public hospitals.”
On the education sector, Mallam el-Rufai said; “As you are aware, we have now recruited about 13,000 new primary school teachers. On Saturday, 19th May 2018, another 65,000 applicants for teaching positions wrote aptitude tests in 139 centres across the state. With the response rate, we are confident that we shall soon achieve our target of hiring 25,000 new primary school teachers.
“Most of our people came together to insist on the right of everyone to decent public education and across the lines of partisan affiliation, people rallied to the message of equal opportunity for all our children through the foundation that decent public schools can help lay.”
The state healthcare sector also came under the governor’s searchlight as he explained that the government has continued to strengthen the public healthcare system with the recruitment of over 500 midwives to improve the institutional capacity; ensure safer pregnancies and reduced maternal mortality.
“We are hiring young people to work in KADIRS, KSMC, the Water Corporation and other establishments. We are recruiting professionals like lawyers, engineers and architects to strengthen governance at the local level”, he said.
The Governor lauded the people for promoting peace in their communities, noting that; “We have recently witnessed sad episodes in parts of the state, particularly in Birnin Gwari and the menace of misguided urban gangs.”
“While we are working to address these challenges, I wish to urge every resident of this state to take seriously their obligation to uphold peace and harmony. Let us all do our utmost to project and defend our common humanity. Let us reject the machinations of those whose viability depends on their ability to divide us”, he pleaded
