Category: Northern Report

• By, Barrister Jimoh Lawal

In a world of grandiose egos and inflated egos, Governor Abdulrazaq stands tall as a beacon of simplicity and sincerity. He proves that one can lead without the need for opulence, that one can serve without the need for extravagance.

The people of Kwara State and the entire nation have been graced with a leader who values substance over showmanship, who cherishes the welfare of the people over personal gain. He’s the Chairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum who leads by example, showing us that greatness lies not in grandeur but in the genuine commitment to making a difference.

So, as the tale of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq continues, the people of Kwara State and the Nigeria Governors Forum find themselves blessed with a leader who reminds us all that true greatness lies in the simplicity of service and the power of humility. May his reign as Chairman and Governor be a testament to the enduring strength of simplicity in leadership. 

In the realm of politics, where opulence and lavishness often take center stage, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State stands out as a beacon of frugality and fiscal responsibility. Unlike many of his counterparts who ruled the State in the past who choose to reside in extravagant government-owned mansions, Governor Abdulrazaq has opted to stay in his private home, setting an example of simplicity and prudence in the face of excess.

His decision to remain in his personal residence is not merely a matter of personal preference but a calculated move to save the state’s resources. While others might indulge in the grandeur of official residences, Governor Abdulrazaq understands that such luxury comes at a significant cost to the taxpayers. By choosing to reside in his private home, he demonstrates his commitment to using public funds wisely and responsibly.

Furthermore, the governor’s emphasis on renovating existing state facilities for his comfort rather than building new ones is a testament to his practical approach to governance. Instead of indulging in unnecessary extravagance, he prioritizes the refurbishment and optimization of existing resources, ensuring that the state’s funds are utilized efficiently.

Governor Abdulrazaq’s frugality is not limited to his personal accommodations, even in his movements across the length and breadth of the state with the Toyota Hilux pick up car that he personally bought and uses as his official vehicle with two other  old cars inherited from the pool of former regime as security vehicle. His entourage is just 3 vehicles and no more. He extends this ethos to various aspects of the state’s administration, carefully scrutinizing expenses to avoid wasteful spending. His prudence in financial matters has earned him commendations from citizens and observers alike far and beyond who see in him a leader who is committed to the welfare of the state and its People and therefore render services without drowning Salaries from the treasury but instead that such emoluments should be plugged back for the development of the State.

While some may perceive frugality as a sign of austerity or lack of ambition, Governor Abdulrazaq proves otherwise. He demonstrates that a leader can be both financially responsible and visionary. His focus on optimizing resources and reducing unnecessary expenses allows him to allocate funds to essential sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

Read Also: Subsidy removal: AbdulRazaq okays N10,000 for Kwara students

As Governor Abdulrazaq continues to serve with his frugal approach to governance, the people of Kwara State witness firsthand the positive impact of responsible financial management. His commitment to fiscal discipline paves the way for a more transparent and accountable government, where the interests of the people take precedence over lavish indulgences.

In an era where ostentatious displays of wealth and power often dominate the political landscape, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s modest and prudent approach stands as a refreshing departure. His frugality sets a precedent for other leaders to follow, inspiring a culture of responsible spending and efficient resource management. He is the first Governor in the country to abrogate the states pension laws enacted by their predecessors that enmark huge sums of money and other emonulments for ex governor and deputy governor in the state after leaving office.

So, let the commendations continue for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, a leader who prioritizes the people’s welfare over personal comforts, a governor who exemplifies that true greatness lies not in excess but in the prudent stewardship of public resources. With his frugal leadership, Kwara state embarks on a path of progress and prosperity, guided by the wisdom of a leader who truly understands the value of financial prudence in the pursuit of a better tomorrow.

Jimoh Lawal is Legal Adviser, Kwara APC

The Bauchi  State Government is set to promote over  2,000 civil servants across grade levels and cadres.

 Head of Civil Service (HoS) of the state,  Mr Yahuza Adamu, stated this yesterday at the sensitisation workshop for the Civil Service Promotion Examination in Bauchi.

He said  the civil servants due for promotion must have met the prerequisites and passed an examination to earn the promotion.

“The workshop, which is one of the requirements for the promotion of the eligible officers, is expected to expose and prepare the officers for the responsibilities ahead in the next grade level,’’ he said.

Mr Adamu admonished those to be promoted to be steadfast and dedicated in their duties, and reciprocate the good gesture of the state government while justifying the emoluments that came with the new anticipated grade levels.

Read Also: Subsidy removal: Gombe, Bauchi slash transport fare

Earlier, Mr Mohammed Umar, Permanent Secretary, Establishments and ServiCom Matters Bureau, HoS Office,  said the advantage of promotion examination would encourage competition, stimulate reading habit and ensure officers to  realise their potentials and develop the same.

According to him,  in the 2022 edition of the examination, the state recorded 90 per cent pass.

“I am also happy that our dream of conducting this workshop, which is a prelude to the 2023 first batch civil service promotion examination is a reality.

“The success recorded so far is attributed to Gov. Bala Mohammed’s commitment to ensuring success of the promotion examination policy.”

He urged the participants to reciprocate the gesture by being loyal and dedicated to their duties.

Alhaji Gambo Magaji, Chairman, Dugge Management Services and the Consultant of the Promotion Examination, urged the participants to listen with keen interest to acquire the knowledge.

According to him, eight papers will be presented from the resource persons and exams will also be conducted on Aug. 12.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has further subsidised the price of fertiliser to N15, 000 per bag against the initial price of N19,000 to alleviate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy and its consequential economic impact.

The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, who announced the new measure on behalf of governor, said state-owned fertiliser selling points/agents across the 11 local government areas are to immediately comply with this directive.

He instructed the sales and distribution committee to sell the fertiliser only to farmers as a palliative.

Yahaya had on June 19 kicked off the sales of fertiliser and other farm input in Gombe State with 166 truck-loads of the commodity at the subsidised N19,000 per bag as against the market price of N26,000.

Read Also: Gombe pays N500m to battle erosion

He had inaugurated a committee to ensure sales and distribution of the fertiliser in the 114 wards across the state’s 11 Local Government Areas to ensure that the commodity reached the  farmers.

Recently, the governor had set up a committee to distribute food stuff to the most vulnerable among the residents – the bottom poor – as his support to bring succour to them.

In the area of public transport, Yahaya had directed the state-owned transport company, the Gombe Line, to put measures in place to ensure that residents were able to travel without much financial burden.

The company has continued to maintain a functional fleet providing subsidised and effective transport services to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, and ensure comfort and safety of passengers.

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri yesterday visited the Yola Market after a night fire that destroyed sections of the main market in Yola Town in Yola South Local Government Area (LGA), a part that, together with Jimeta in Yola North LGA, make up the Yola capital city.

The people of Adamawa State woke up yesterday morning to learn that sections of the main market in Yola Town had been gutted by fire, which sources said, started just before 12am.

Sources said many shops were affected and valuable goods lost to the fire.

According to a resident, who live in the neighbourhood of the market, firefighters fought hard to save the market from destruction.

Read Also: Fintiri relaxes curfew in 17 Adamawa council areas

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the incident in a short message to reporters, saying the Commissioner of Police, CP Afolabi Babatola, had  deployed more men to augment the Police in Yola Town to put out the fire and prevent miscreants from looting.

“With the support of fire fighters, the situation was brought under control. Investigation has since begun to ascertain the cause of the fire for possible action,” Nguroje had stated.

Before Fintiri’s tour of the affected market around 1pm Tuesday, he had about the same time earlier on Monday visited warehouses and stores which were on Sunday morning attacked by hoodlums who stole the food and non-food items in those facilities.

Fintiri had responded to the looting on Sunday by declaring a 24-hour curfew which was in the morning of Monday relaxed to take effect from dusk to dawn.

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly yesterday screened and confirmed 16 out of the 17 commissioner-nominees sent to it by Governor Abdullahi Sule.

The Speaker of the House, Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, announced this after their screening at the House in Lafia.

The Speaker said the House confirmed the nominees that have appeared for the screening.

He said that a commissioner-nominee, Haruna Musa from Nassarawa Eggon LGA  did not appear for the screening, saying that he was indisposed.

Read Also: Omadefu emerges as Majority Leader of Nasarawa Assembly

“Those 16 commissioner- nominees that have appeared, screened and  confirmed are Hon. Yakubu Kwanta-Akwanga LG; Aishatu Rufai-Awe LG; Umar Abubakar Dan’akano, Awe LG,  Munirat Abdullahi – DomaLG; Timothy Kasuwa – KaruLG; Ja’afaru Ango, Karu LG; Margaret Elayo – Keana LG, Bala Mulki–Keffi LG, and John W. Mamman – Kokona LG.

“Others are Abubakar Imam Zanwa – LafiaLG; Samuel Kafu Emgba -Lafia LG; Aliyu Ahmed Tijjani– NasarawaLG; Muhammed Iyimoga – Obi LG; Labaran Magaji – Toto LG; Gaza Gwamna, Toto LG; Mu’azu Gosho – Wamba LG,” he said

The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to communicate the House resolution to Governor Abdullahi Sule for his further necessary action.

Earlier, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Mohammed Adamu  Omadefu  (APC- Keana) moved a motion for the confirmation of the commissioner nominees and was seconded by the  House Minority Leader, Hon Luka Zhekaba ( PDP- Obi 11).

The House unanimously screened and confirmed 16 out of the 17 Commissioner nominees.

• Seeks tax holiday for new schools

A former Head of Service of the Federation (HoS), Prof. Oladapo Olatunji, has called for a review of the education policy so that the country can have good quality education.

Olatunji said the review became imperative to have good quality education and skill set that will serve the labour market.

The former HoS, who said this at the graduation of KIA Lakeside Academy, Abuja, called for a tax holiday for new schools.

Olatunji noted that schools should be given tax holiday, while those that have been existence for a reasonable of years should pay tax.

The former Head of Service, who is also the Chairman of the school, said: “We need to do some real work. I hope this new government will pay attention to tertiary institutions, so that the good universities will have a demand for good secondary school products.

“In a way, the government will take a holistic way to review the way we are implementing our education policy, and review the education policy in a way that we have good quality education, good quality skill set that will serve our labour.

“New schools should be given tax holidays but when your school is matured to pay tax, you should pay appropriately. But by the time you are producing really good quality students, you can use the performance of the students to give tax rebates.”

Principal of the School, William Pope, said he was overwhelmed because the school that started in a little way has now become big.

He said while the school has been through ups and downs, the management has been able to build the core values of the school.

The keynote speaker, Tope Fashedemi, said while the graduands have spent a lot of time in the classrooms, learning mathematics, economics, and languages of the West, the most important lessons they have learnt would not be from the textbooks but from their interactions with people.

Fashedemi, who is the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, said: “During this period of your stay in school, you would have experienced upside and the downside, you would have learned perseverance, you would have succeeded in some tasks, you would have failed in other tasks, not winning targets. You must have learned what it means to fall, to fail and to rise again to give it another shot.

“These are all important lessons that will serve you well in your journey into adulthood. As you put your head in this life journey, never forget all the foundational lessons that you had during this stage of your life.”