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Tag: Aminu Masari

  • Masari swears-in new Head of Service

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina state has sworn-in Alhaji Idris Tune, as the new Head of Service (HOS) in the state.
    Tune succeeded Alhaji Garba Sanda, who retired after reaching retirement age recently.

    Speaking at the occasion, Masari said his administration would continue to give staff development a top priority because civil servants are the engine room of government.

    He said government abolished the tenure policy introduced by the previous administration to give civil servants room for development as well as enable them to contribute to the development of the state.

    Masari stressed the need for cooperation between the middle and senior civil servants in the state to enhance service delivery.

    Read Also: Masari seeks support for security agencies

    He advised the new HOS to tap from the experiences of his predecessors to enable him attain the desired goal.

    The governor also urged him to discharge his duty with fairness and justice.

    Tune was born on 1963 in Ingawa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

    He started his civil service career in 1988, and was appointed Permanent Secretary in 2008.

  • Flood: Katsina searches for permanent solution

    KATSINA State Governor Aminu Masari opened the floodgate of opinions on what led to the flooding which swept away scores of people, livestock, and washed out farmlands and houses, among others, in Jibia, a community in the state.

    “I can say that I have never seen this kind of disaster in my life,” he said. “The water level is above 10 feet high and it is purely a natural disaster as the government had constructed drainages that were emptying into Jibia River. The water from the river moved in a reverse order and came back to the town and caused the flooding.”

    Many blamed the disaster on structures built on the Jibia River bank, and on residents’ refusal to vacate the low-lying areas, as the authorities had warned.

    Sixty-five-year-old Muhammed Jafaru, a resident of the town recalled that this is not the first time such an incident is taking place, adding that the difference this time is the magnitude of the flooding. He admitted that the victims who were mainly artisans, herders, fishermen and low-income earning settlers, scrambled for land to build their houses.

    He said, “The last flooding before this one was three years ago but it was not as big as this one, the construction of dam around the river side equally did not help matters as it blocked the passage of water and provided dry land for people to build houses.”

     

    Quest for permanent solution

    Two major approaches adopted by the Katsina State government to permanently resolve the perennial cases of flooding in the town include resettling the victims elsewhere away from the flood prone environment. Already a cross section of the IDPs interviewed by the Nation prefers their resettlement elsewhere rather than returning them to their destroyed homes, if rebuilt by government.

    Another approach is by engaging the professional expertise of the staff of the state ministry of environment to come up with a better technical design that can permanently address the issue of flooding in Jibia.

     

    Re-channeling the drainages

    The governor’s decision to re-channel the drainages, which he said he had directed the state ministry of environment to do is seen as a welcome development as it will certainly ensure the diversion of the water from having a direct contact with the river.

     

    Seeking outside assistance

    Governor Masari has already ruled out seeking the assistance of the federal government or that of the neighboring Niger Republic in addressing the flooding challenges except when it is absolutely necessary, noting that since the incident happened within the confines of the state. the government will face it squarely.

     

  • Masari swears-in new CJ, Grand Khadi

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, on Monday swore-in Justice Musa Danladi and Khadi Hafiz Mika’il as the new Chief Judge and Grand Khadi of the state, respectively.

    Our news men reports that Danladi and Mika’il were appointed on acting capacity in March, which was confirmed by the National Judicial Council.

    Speaking at the occasion in Katsina, Masari urged the people to pray for the new appointees to discharge their duties effectively.

    “Your job is a difficult one, you are the last hope of common man.

    “You know many people; some of them may come to you to seek for favour.

    Read Also: N184.5m contract ‘fraud:’ICPC files charges against Masari

    ‘So, we will pray to Allah to help you to be fair to all and do justice to all people in accordance with the provisions of the law,’’ he said.

    The news men reports that Justice Danladi was born in 1958 in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    He was appointed Chief Magistrate in 1987 and High Court Judge in 1994.

    Khadi Mika’il was born in 1955 in Bakori Local Government area of the state and was appointed Registrar, Shari’ah Court in 1985 and Judge in Shari’ah Court of Appeal in 2007.

    NAN

  • Aregbesola, Masari to Muslims: pray for people in difficulties

    Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Katsina State counterpart Aminu Masari yesterday urged Muslims to approach the Ramadan season with best practices and share love with their fellow Muslims and neighbours.

    The duo also admonished Muslim faithful to remember the poor, sick and those in difficulties in their prayers.

    Aregbesola said: “Ramadan is that period when Muslims worldwide engage in physical and spiritual act of self-denial, cleansing, prayers, fellowship and charity. Ramadan is also a time of deep consecration to spiritual matters. It is therefore time of spiritual awakening and commitment to the tenets of Islam.

    “As we celebrate this great festival of the religion of peace, may the peace and comfort of Allah rest upon us, our family, community, state and the nation.

    “ This is wishing all Muslims Ramadan Kareem, with love and grace on behalf of the government and good people of Osun.”

    Masari called on Muslims to pray for the nation and its leadership.

    He said: “As a period of devotion, there is no better time to dedicate to Nigeria than now, in view of the insecurity challenges threatening its corporate existence. As a period of intense devotion and introspection, it is incumbent on us to use religion for the advancement, not the dismemberment of our nation.

    “This, we can do by imbibing the lessons which the month of Ramadan seeks to teach us, especially showing love to one another regardless of religious inclination, assisting the less privileged and placing our collective interest over and above individual considerations.

    “We must remember that a nation is only as good as its leadership, which means we cannot wish evil for our leaders and expect prosperity for the nation.”

    Masari called on Nigerians to continue to support government’s effort at improving the living conditions of people and moving the country forward.

    Member of Osun House of Assembly Olatunbosun Oyintiloye congratulated Muslims on the commencement of Ramadan.

    Oyintiloye, who is House Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy, urged Muslims to use the period to renew their commitments, virtues of love and peace as taught by Prophet Muhammad.

    He also urged Muslims in Osun state to pray for smooth conduct of the forthcoming governorship election.

  • Katsina Govt. lauds FG over ban on codeine

    Katsina State Government has commended the Federal Government for its recent ban on the local production and importation of codeine as a addictive cough syrup.

    Gov. Aminu Masari made the commendation on Thursday in Daura during a one-day zonal roundtable workshop on the phenomenon of drug abuse in the state.

    Masari was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Mustapha Inuwa.

    He described drug abuse as one of the illicit practices engaged by the youth which ruined their future and send them to the early graves or subject them to mental retardation.

    “ We need to put all hands on deck to curtail the menace,’’ he said.

    He disclosed that the state government had trained and empowered 1,000 youths on various skills.

    They include: ICT; poultry and fish production; vegetable oil extraction and tailoring, adding, “ we would recruit 5,000 youth as teachers under the newly-introduced S Power programme.

    The governor called on lawmakers, traditional and religious leaders, parents and wealthy individuals, among other stakeholders, to partner with the state government in curtailing drug abuse, stressing that youth are the leaders of tomorrow.

    He described the partnership between the Peace Builders Security Concepts, organisers of the workshop, and the state government in curbing the instances of youth restiveness and drug abuse, as appropriate.

    “The Peace Builders Security Concepts remains a good partner for the initiative,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Codeine ban: NDLEA arrests 17 suspects

    The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, represented by the Turakin Daura, Alhaji Musa Abdurrahaman, lauded the state government for partnering with the NGO in the fight against drug abuse.

    He described the workshop as timely, and assured of the unconditional support of the traditional and religious leaders in his domain toward the success of the initiative.

    Malam Ibrahim Katsina, the Executive Director of the Peace Builders Security Concepts, called on the youth to shun practices that would destroy their future.

    Katsina also called for the cooperation of the youth and parents in detecting and arresting drug dealers, consumers and the barons.

    He said the NGO was collaborating with the NDLEA and other security agencies in checking drug abuse.

    Zainab Salisu, a participant, said the workshop was timely, as according to her, drug abuse and addiction had generated different diseases in the addicts.

    She said most cases of house burglary, rape and other criminal activities were usually committed under drug influence.

    NAN

  • 2019: My re-election bid not for personal gain – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday in Daura, Katsina State, said the driving force for seeking public office should be to serve the people, and see their lives improved, not for frivolity or personal ambition.

    Speaking at the All Progressives Party’s (APC) Ward Congress held at Bayagida Model Primary School, President Buhari said the passion to serve and see real changes in the lives of Nigerians informed his choice to join partisan politics in the first place, and inspired him to contest elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015.

    He said that his decision to seek a second term in office was borne out of a deep passion to serve Nigerians, and not for personal gains.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President Buhari noted that his administration had already started the process of ensuring fairness, justice and equity, in spite of challenges, and would work hard to consolidate on the gains.

    He said “I am not in politics for fun, frivolity or to amass wealth, I have always been driven by a deep sense of commitment to make a difference to the lives of our people.

    “After my retirement from the army, or forceful retirement, I sat back and watched as events unfolded on the political turf, and realised the country needed an intervention for fairness, justice and inclusion of Nigerians in the issues that affect their lives,’’ he said.

    The President called for patience, maturity and orderliness as the 2019 elections’ calendar begins to unfold, urging political parties, candidates and the electorate to put the country first and always remember that victory ultimately belongs to God.

    “After going to the court so many times to challenge results of elections in 2003, 2007 and  2011,  and going up to the Supreme Court, I concluded that ultimately it is God who determines who will win elections, and in 2015 I got here,’’ he added.

    In his remarks, the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, said the process of electing the leaders of the party at the ward level was hitch-free, orderly and based on the constitution of the APC.

    “What we have here are our leaders that were chosen based on consensus and we are happy that it reflects the will of the people and the APC constitution. We followed the process to also ensure that there is affirmation,’’ he said.

    The Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Ward Congress, who is also the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq urged the party leaders to remain loyal and live up to expectations.

  • Buhari: Historical books, service to humanity

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has described authorship of historical books as an act of rendering service to humanity. President Buhari said this on Saturday in Katsina, during the public presentation and launching of biographies of Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar and his predecessors.

    The President, who was represented by the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, said that writing of historical books had the capacity to promote mutual understanding and unity.

    “The authorship of books on history is an act of rendering service to humanity. “The more we write books, the more we understand ourselves and the more we unite.

    “What is important is that those who disagree in the history should also write their books,” he said.

    He stressed the need for Nigerians to work hard to sustain the unity of the country.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, charged all Nigerians to embark on projects that would help strengthen the unity of the country.

    He described the attendance of different personalities at the event, irrespective of their religions and tribes as a sign of national unity.

    The Sultan, however, said, “I urge the books’ authors to adjust a few fallacies in the books as few chapter distorted history.’’

    The chief launcher of the books, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, also harped on unity of Nigeria.

    “What is dividing us is lack of understanding of history. Whether you are from West, South, North, nobody has control over what God has for our lives.

    “Whom I am, where I am coming from and where am going, my destiny, it is in the hands of God.

    “Our problem in Nigeria is not about poor economy, but lack of understanding of difficulties Nigerians are going through,’’ he said.

    Tinubu charged Nigerian leaders to preach peace and unity irrespective of their religions, tribes and geopolitical zones, saying: “There should be no tribal war; we must share boundaries, coexist and share economic issues with ourselves.’’

    Read Also: Buhari commends Adenuga for creating jobs in Nigerians

    The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who chaired the event, said that he attended the event because of the relationship between the people of his constituency and the Gwandu Emirate.

    He stressed that he would continue to support any cause that would promote peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Saraki commended late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, for initiating the writing of books to foster understanding and knowledge in the country.

    “The books will further brighten the future of Nigerian youths,’’ he said.

    The newsmen reports that the event was attended by dignitaries from the National Assembly, Emirs from the northern part of the country and state governors from neighbouring countries of Benin and Niger Republics.

    The newsmen also reports that over N100 million was realised from the launching of the books.

    NAN

  • Katsina flags off FG’s school feeding programme

    Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Wednesday flagged off the federal government home grown school feeding program expected to cover no fewer than 876,000 Pupils even as the state government is expected to employ about 11,000 food vendors to cook for the pupils

    Speaking at the flagging off ceremony, the governor said his government is desirous of ensuring that pupils focus their attention on learning, pointing out that there is a relationship between well fed pupils and the capacity to learn while hungry pupils find it difficult to concentrate.

    He also noted the imperative to mainstream school feeding as a policy of his government, just as he said the programme is very important particularly that the primary education is fundamental as it is the foundation of the education sector.

    He said “The programme has multiplier effects as it will create jobs for about 10,000 women, the school children will fed and the farmers will have their farm produce patronized by the state’’.

    “It will enhance enrolment and retention in our primary schools which is very crucial particularly that it is fundamental and foundation of education. We will also have healthy children and women”.

    The state Coordinator of the programme, Hajia Binta Abba Umar, in her address at the occasion, said the programme would go a long way in reducing the sufferings of primary school pupils in the state.

    According to her, the programme is designed to enhance academic performance of pupils across the state, stressing that the state government under the watch of Governor Aminu Bello Masari has put the needed apparatus on ground to ensure the sustainability of the programme.

    Hajiya Umar who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Girl-child Education, however, applauded federal and state governments for alleviating the plights of vulnerable pupils via the creation of the platform to feed primary school pupils in the state.

    In her words, “The benefit of this program me is to improve on the enrolment and retention of the pupils across primary schools in the state. The state government would not hesitate to sanction any cook that fails to provide the free meal for the pupils because the initiative is for them”.

  • Katsina trains 60 journalists on poultry, fishing, bee-keeping

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has emphasised the need for journalists to embrace vocational training to enable them have a sustainable livelihood after retirement.

    Masari said this known on Tuesday in Katsina during the opening ceremony of training of 60 members of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) on poultry, fisheries and bee-keeping.

    The training was organised under the Katsina State Economic Empowerment Directorate ( KASEED ).

    Masari, represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Empowerment, Alhaji Abdukkadir Mamman-Nasir said the trainees were expected to educate the public on the management of poultry, fisheries and beekeeping after the training.

    The governor said the participants would also be taught on entrepreneurship course after the training.

    According to him, after the course, there will be a test, adding that those who score 40 per cent and above will be given loans by the state government to start business as entrepreneurs.

    He said this was why the state government involved the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) and Bank of Agriculture ( BOA ) in the programme.

    Also speaking, the Director, Business Development in KASEED, Alhaji Abdurrahman Abdu-Zango, said journalists were selected for the programme because they were agents and medium of awareness creation in the society.

    In a remark, the Chairman of NUJ in the state, Alhaji Buhari Mamman, thanked the state government for organising the training.

    Mamman, who was represented by the Secretary of the council, Alhaji Hassan Dan-Ali, promised that participants would put what they have learnt during the training into practice.

    NAN

  • Masari appoints new Special Adviser on Higher Education

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has approved the appointment of Malam Bashir Usman Ruwangodiya as his  new Special Adviser on Higher Education.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the state, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa and made available to News men on Thursday in Katsina.

    The statement said the appointment was based on Section 196 subsection 1 of the Constitution and in recognition of his track record of service.

    Read Also: Masari appoints new Special Adviser on Higher Education

    The governor congratulated the new appointee and prayed Allah to guide him in discharging his duties.

    The appointment took immediate effect.Until his appointment, Ruwangodiya was a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communications, Hassan Usman, Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina.

    NAN