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Tag: Masari

  • I believe in power devolution – Masari

    I believe in power devolution – Masari

    As House of Representatives Speaker between 2003 and 2007, Aminu Bello Masari, who is now Kastina State governor, was in PDP. To  him, his former party wrecked the country. In this interview with reporters in Kastina, he says he believes in devolution of power to the extent that the central government is not weakened. But he states that he does not know what restructuring means. State House Correspondent, Augustine Ehikioya was there.

    TODAY we toured a general hospital; it is one of the many across most of the local governments. One key thing we learnt from there is that children within age five and below enjoy free medical care. We also learnt that cases like surgeries that have to do with hernia, caesarian section and all that are free.  How are you getting the funds to do all these?

    Everybody is aware of the state of the economy when we came in and Katsina was not an exception. In fact, you could say our situation was bad when we came in. We started by cutting spending, especially on political appointees. So the intervention of the federal government from that 10 billion naira was what we used as seed money for our project. You know states were given 10 billion each. In our own case, we took three billion to education because our number one priority is education. We took 2.5 billion to health, 2.5 billion to water and two billion to agriculture because these are our key priority areas.

    In the health sector, we met our hospitals in a terrible condition; in fact, I was there 3am, 5am there was no light in the delivery room; they were using improvised lightening system; it was a very bad situation.

    So, we renovated the wards but ended up constructing new ones in most of the places. In Katsina, we have the biggest radiologist, A and E, paediatric. In fact, we have exceeded the 3 billion; we are no longer talking about 2.5 billion again. All the interventions we had along the line, we put them in education, health and water supply. In primary education alone since we came in, we have spent over 3 billion naira. In fact, by the end of this year, we must have spent up to 4 to 5 billion naira, including salary. We are not talking about the running cost. These are capital projects in primary schools.

    For us, we cannot address poverty without addressing the issue of education and public education is the most guaranteed way of taking people out of poverty; you can’t take people out of poverty without education. You can’t do more than your size, so without education, Katsina cannot compete. Other parts of Nigeria won’t even wait for Katsina.

    Do you have an incentive to take kids out of the streets into the classrooms and keep them there?

    We are making the schools habitable and we have been paying teachers’ salaries as at when due. We have promoted teachers that were not promoted in the last seven years and we provided teaching materials and aids and we told parents they have to be responsible because they are ultimately responsible for educating their children. I held a parley with all the head teachers of all the primary schools in the state. They told us their grievances, the problems and we addressed some of them and are still addressing some of the issues, including overcrowding in schools, open schools, no fencing. Yesterday, I was in one of the secondary schools because I am completely rehabilitating, renovating and building new structures there; all the toilets, 25 of them, were down and out. For boarders, all the girls’ schools were completely dilapidated. We are rebuilding the schools.

    Aside health and education, agriculture used to be the main stay of the economy in your state. How far have you gone in keying into the federal government’s agricultural initiative to attain sufficiency in food production?

    You are absolutely right. When we were campaigning, we told the people very clearly that all of us, anybody above 40, was educated through the native authority system, which was relying on agriculture and livestock; that was the main source of revenue in the native authority system. It was from there we were trained; we built primary and secondary schools and dispensaries which we now call clinics. The secondary school in Funtua was built by native authority. It was started by native authority and we were midway when the northern Nigerian government took over. So, it was done before through agriculture and it can still be done. So we put agriculture as part of our priority and that was why I said we allocated N2 billion to that sector.

    What we started with, because you have to determine the type of soil we have, so we commissioned a consultant, someone who was a consultant with World Bank, FAO, who happens to come from Katsina State. So we pulled him out and appointed him Special Adviser on Agriculture. Then we established 34 other stations close to the local government. Now we have done farmers data capture and it was through that we were able to, during the last dry season farming, using the anchor from federal government, to organise 9,000 farmers who participated in rice production. That was only for dry season. Now we are targeting that for cotton production next year, we have minimum of 60,000 farmers. Also all the money we are pumping in we are pumping into research and development, including getting information because we can’t start like we use to do without information on seed, soil. In Katsina we have three types of soils. If you go to the northern end of the state, it is sandy, the middle between muddy and a type of clay. You have to consider the soils even to the point where you have to choose a tractor. For instance, if you want to go to Daura you cannot take a 7.5 horse power tractor, what will you be doing with that when with three or four horse power you can achieve result because the soil there is light, it is soft. If you go down south of the state you will need heavy tractor because the soil there is heavy. So, we have stopped doing blanket planning for the rainy season. So, from our resources we procure fertiliser, over 25,000 metric tons for rainy season in 2015, 2016 and this year because of the federal government’s intervention we targeted about 100,000 metric tons. We were only able to get 30,000 tons and that is why this year we did not do any fertilizer ceremony. We have stopped it.

    We also gave money to the farmers supply companies because hitherto they were not doing anything to order for improved seeds, insecticides, herbicides and we also rehabilitated up to three irrigation projects. We built new canals, we invited contractors who bided and won and we gave them money; one at Malam Fashe, Dagura, which is an old irrigation dam that was built during the Northern Nigerian Government. Previous government attempted to spend money doing this and that and in the end money didn’t work because it was not applied the way it should. This time around we have the bidding, we have the contractors and they are doing a good job.

    So really, we have taken agriculture as our second priority because we believe that with that, we can sustain the state. The native authority of yesteryears was a province made up of Katsina and Daura Emirate. Before you have equal empowerment, you must have a minimum of two emirates and so it was Katsina and Daura that formed the Katsina Province. So it is the same province that is Katsina State today.

    So, I think if we go back to our history definitely, if we do the right thing in the next five years, we will be able to survive.

    How vibrant is the economy of Katsina State in terms of internally generated revenue and adding value to agriculture?

    It is now that we are building the infrastructure to generate internal revenue; prior to now, the state was dependent on federal allocation because if you have N10 billion from the Federation Account, all the salaries you pay, they will pay tax, the contracts you give, they will pay tax. It is now we are building the infrastructure of agriculture that will provide the revenue base. We have hired a consultant, he has surveyed the entire state, identified the revenue points. So, what we are working now is towards embarking on a lot of sensitisation because this area I can say since 1979, nobody was paying tax; only those who want to get tax clearance certificate that will pay whatever the revenue office ask them to pay. But those who are supposed to pay, the commercial, the farmers, there was no infrastructure on ground for them to be able to pay.  I believe we now know the taxable outlets, how many we are adding into our tax register and how to get it. You know when you empower farmers, the money will go to the pockets of the people, you will increase their purchasing power and they will in turn pay tax. So unless you build the infrastructure, you cannot generate internal revenue because like I said earlier, the entire revenue was based on the Federation Account.

    Last year, you organised an international business summit in the state that attracted global attention with the president attending the opening. How has the outcome of that summit translated into gains for the state?

    The outcome has been very encouraging. First of all, now we are working with Dangote on some agriculture projects; we are working with BUA, which is building a textile park, we are working with other Indian companies; we are building economic zone; we are taking advantage of this la-catch, and we are building so many power plants. Those that have indicated interest we have given them land. They want to build solar power plants but the process in Abuja is taking so much time. In terms of housing, we have given more than we will need to the extent that we are now even discouraging those who are building because the houses are too many. Because the houses are meant for civil servants but how many civil servants do we really have? Those working in the local government areas are not up to 100, so we are really encouraging all the investment more in the agriculture sector, power. We have a company who is distributing over 148,000 tractors. They came during the economic summit with 78 tractors. The government and the farmers’ association, the company met with a bank and reached an agreement. Now the tractors are available; all you need to do is pay 20 per cent of the cost while you spread the payment gradually. And during dry season, the company can come and take the tractors to work and you pay. The model we are employing is working and I believe we will see the result.

    The federal government is fighting corruption at the centre, what is your state doing to curb corruption?

    What we have done is to be transparent and open. In this state, at every opportunity I get, I tell them what we are getting from Abuja for the local government and for the state. Like last month (August), we got N3.6 billion. I told them this is the amount for salary, this is what is going for overheads, and this is the balance, the internally generated revenue is this. The local government last month got N4.02 billion and there are 34 local government areas.

    So, the money is so transparently distributed. In any case, there is no money to steal. The Paris Club Refund for example, we were told to pay salary with it, we paid over N7 billion. In the state, we paid over N4 billion and another N4.8 billion. We are working on January to April 2017. By December 2016, nobody is being owed salaries, whether alive or dead; everybody has been paid. So, as far as salaries, arrears and gratuities are concerned, we have paid all.

    Many Nigerians are disappointed with your party;  but others are saying the party should be given another chance in 2019. What is your take?

    It depends on who is saying he is disappointed, maybe the person was not in Nigeria up to 2015 but the beauty of all this is that you can only lie with your mouth, your inside knows the truth.

    For restoring peace and security in this country, APC has created the atmosphere, the environment conducive for living. Before 2015 election, we were not sure if there will be Nigeria or not. And for those who knew what was then in terms of revenue that was accruing to the federal government and what is now in terms of revenue accruing, I think any reasonable person will give kudos to the APC because for navigating up to this time, the population has increased but the source of revenue has gone down. The mouths to feed are increasing while the source of revenue is going down. When we had the opportunity to save, we didn’t save; when we had opportunity to invest in areas that will bring additional revenue, we did not. Everybody in Nigeria was a living witness to this. So yes, for us to consolidate the change and to see the fruits from these heavy investments, it will take years. It takes time.

    You know, the APC has come to provide responsible and expansive leadership which it has done and it is doing. We didn’t say we are coming here to perform magic because we are not magicians. So, for anybody to say APC is a huge disappointment, you know whoever was in the PDP yesterday and is in the PDP today, inside him, he knows the truth. You can only lie with your mouth. If you are 5.6 inches tall you know but you claim to be 6 inches, you know it is a lie.

    Is Katsina enjoying special benefits from the federal government, being the President’s home state?

    You know this president is not somebody who will take projects to Katsina State because he is from this state. Of course, some investing companies or some ministries when you go and say you are from Katsina, they may look at you as somebody coming from the President’s state naturally but for him to put a project in Katsina because it is his state, it won’t happen. So, it is no longer business as usual that when you have a president everybody will be trooping to the place. How many jets have you seen here since he has been here? If it was the other time, this would have become a Mecca of some sought. Even I in my small house here would have become a king. But this is not the kind of president we have. These are the kind of leaders the nation needs.

    What’s your take on the recent clamour for restructuring?

    I believe in devolution of power because somebody telling you restructuring does not know what it means. I believe strongly in devolution not to the extent of weakening the central government because here we need the central government so that it can carry the nation forward to a greater height. This is because a weak central government can bring the nation down. But at the same time, I do not see the rationale of the federal government concerning itself with primary and secondary education. These are foundational education which is the responsibility of local governments and states. I do not see the business of the federal government in constructing boreholes, primary healthcare centres, fixing the salaries for my councillors here, fixing the same salary with Lagos. Even I as a governor I should not be earning the same thing as the governor of Lagos State because the revenue base is different from mine. The revenue base in Kano is higher than mine, these are the areas we really need to look at and address them. I believe in devolution but for restructuring, I don’t know what it means.

    Katsina will be 30 in a few days, is there any elaborate celebration in the offing?

    We are going to have a very simple celebration which will not cost tax payers so much. We will be 30 just like Akwa Ibom State but we are not doing elaborate ceremony.

    How is the typical Katsina man feeling, coming from the home state of the President?

    Very responsive! It is a huge responsibility because wherever you go to and the moment they know you are from Katsina State people will watch what you do. The era of beating your chest, breaking the law, doing as you like because the President is from your state, is over. We tell our people to try and show good manners; yes I am from Katsina so the best I can do for the president is to do something that will show good manners. We are law abiding and very responsible because to do otherwise you are wasting your time.

    What is the implication of the country coming out of recession?

    I don’t know how to put it. You know

  • Governors shouldn’t earn same salary, says Masari

    Governors shouldn’t earn same salary, says Masari

    If Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has his way,  governors should not be earning the same salary.

    The governor says this is because while some states have the financial capacity to pay big, those with smaller income  cannot afford to compete paying big salaries.

    He spoke in an interview in Katsina.

    Drawing a comparison between his state and Lagos State, Masari, a former House of Representatives Speaker said:  “I, as a governor, I should not be earning the same thing as the governor of Lagos because his  revenue base is different from mine.

    “The revenue base in Kano is higher than mine. These are the areas we really need to look at and address.”

    The governor expressed support for devolution of power to the states but claimed he does not understand what restructuring, as being advocated by some Nigerians, means.

    He said: “I believe strongly in devolution not to the extent of weakening the central government because here, we need the central government so that it can carry the nation forward to a greater height, because a weak central government can bring the nation down.

    “But at the same time, I do not see the rationale of the federal government concerning itself with primary and secondary education. These are the responsibilities of local governments and states.

    “I do not see the business of the federal government in constructing boreholes, primary healthcare centres, fixing the salaries for my councillors here, fixing the same salary with Lagos.

    “I believe in devolution, my friend, but restructuring, I don’t know what it means.”

     

    • Read the full interview on page 37.
  • Masari pays homage to Buhari

    Masari pays homage to Buhari

    •Warns against rumour mongering

    Gov. Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has expressed gratitude to God and Nigerians for the sustained prayers for the unity of the country and the wellbeing of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Masari said this in Daura yesterday when he paid Sallah homage on President Muhammadu Buhari at his GRA residence in the metropolis.

    He said to God be the glory that the President was back hale and hearty, stressing that Nigerians would continue their prayers and enlightenment campaign on the importance of peace and unity.

    He said he was in Daura to felicitate and rejoice with the President on his return from medical vacation.

    In addition, “to assure the president of our support in his effort to unite the country,” he said.

    Masari called on Nigerians to place the interest of the nation at heart by giving it the priority it deserves, adding “we will continue to give our unconditional support to the President for him to achieve his agenda for the country.

    “We will not relent in promoting our unity in diversity for a prosperous Nigeria, “he said.

    He said the Katsina State Government under his leadership  had introduced a series of reforms in agriculture, education, infrastructure, health and empowerment programmes.

    Buhari thanked the governor for the visit and wish all Nigerians happy Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

    The governor was accompanied during the visit by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, commissioners, politicians and other well wishers.

    Masari had earlier warned people to desist from spreading falsehood and rumours or face the consequences. He gave the warning while receiving the Emir of Katsina, Dr Abdulmumuni Kabir who paid him Sallah homage at his residence.

    According to him, anybody caught spreading false information no matter how highly placed will be dealt with.

    “Nobody or group of persons has threatened my life over my action or policies as being speculated by agents of doom.

    “My administration is ready to execute programmes and policies that have direct bearing in the lives of Katsina citizens.

    “I am ready to do what is right for the overall interest of the people of the state.” he said.

  • We almost impeached Obasanjo, says Masari

    We almost impeached Obasanjo, says Masari

    MEMBERS of the House of Representatives came close to impeaching President Olusegun Obasanjo before the 2003 elections, Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari said yesterday.

    According to the governor, the attempted removal was long before the third term saga

    Masari spoke while addressing members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 10 (EIMC 10) at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Abuja.

    The governor, who was Speaker of the lower house during the period, emphasised the need for both the executive and legislative arms to establish cordial working relations towards achieving democratic growth.

    He noted the acrimonious relationship that defined Obasanjo’s administration and the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003.

    “The highlight of this hostility and militant disposition of the House was the attempted impeachment of Obasanjo.

    “Of course, the move was jettisoned following intervention of some well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.

    Giving a historical analysis of how poor relations between the two arms have proven to be a recipe for political volatility in several countries, he noted that the removal of Governor Balarabe Musa by Kaduna State legislators on June 23, 1981 set an unwholesome precedent.

    He said acrimonious relationships at the state and federal levels were unhelpful to the nation.

    He said the Obasanjo experience was unique and instructive of the nature and impact of executive-legislature relations on the overall governance and the growth of democracy.

    He said Katsina State is a model because it evolved a relationship of respect, trust and cooperation between the executive and the legislature for the common good of the people.

    The governor noted that such relationship would always remain crucial to democracy and growth.

    In his five-point recommendation for building and sustaining good executive-legislature relationship, Masari urged the two arms to understand the constitutional limits of their powers, understand that the legislature has a duty to ensure accountability while legislators must also “resist the temptation to appoint themselves as judge and jury over all issues”.

  • Boko Haram: Northern governors donate N360m to Borno

    Boko Haram: Northern governors donate N360m to Borno

    The governors of 18 Northern States on Wednesday donated the sum of N360 million to support Borno State government’s efforts  at rebuilding communities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), ‎Nasir El-Rufai  (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa) presented the cheque to Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, at the Government House in Maiduguri.

    They said each of the 18 states, excluding Borno, donated N20 million.

    The governors also interacted with displaced persons in one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state and paid a courtesy call on Governor Shettima.

    Masari, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said they were picked to visit Maiduguri and commiserate with Shettima and the people of Borno State over the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the state.

    He said: “At the last meeting of the Northern Governors, it was resolved that a committee be set up to visit Borno. We were nominated as members of the committee. We are here to show sympathy to the good people of Borno and in solidarity with our brother, Governor Kashim Shettima. We are solidly behind him in this trying time.

    “We have also resolved to be more united than ever before. What affects any of us, affects all. Each of the 18 northern states is donating N20million totaling N360million. Some have already issued cheques while others are sending theirs soon. We will stand in solidarity with each other and do everything humanly possible to ensure that this kind of crisis that affected the northeast does not affect any other part of the north and by extension the country.”

    In his remarks, Governor Shettima hailed the support of his colleagues, saying their empathy has been a source of encouragement.

    He said: “As your brother and colleague in this state, one of the things that has kept me strong despite the calamity of Boko Haram, is the genuine empathy and encouragement I constantly receive from all of you.

    “Most Governors have solidly identified with us even when Borno suffered its most severe neglect between 2011 and 2014. It was at this period that Boko Haram took over most of our local government areas after very audacious and bloody attacks. They killed thousands, destroyed communities, abducted and raped our sisters and daughters.

    “They destroyed nearly one million residential houses; destroyed over five thousand classrooms and other school buildings. They destroyed over 200 healthcare centres and bombed water and electricity installations.”

     

  • Masari vows to recover missing N50.5 billion

    Masari vows to recover missing N50.5 billion

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari vowed yesterday to use all legal means to recover the N50.5 billion allegedly looted by the immediate past administration ex-Gov. Ibrahim Shema.

    Receiving the Report of the Commission of Inquiry that investigated the whereabouts of some funds and property under Shema’s administration, Masari said:”Now that the commission of inquiry has established that over N50.5 billion is looted, we shall use all legal means to recover the money.

    “The looted funds belong to the people of Katsina state and we are ready to follow due process in the courts to retrieve the money from the officials of the past administration.

    “The people of Katsina state need the money back so that it can be used to provide social amnesties to them.

    “We are determined to retrieve the funds from those that looted same and no amount of legal huddles will prevent us from collecting the state money.

    “The commission of inquiry has used legal procedures to unearth the financial scandals from the documents that were presented before it.

    “The State Government will use the facts that were presented before the commission of inquiry to prosecute those that committed the offence.

    “The Katsina state government has no intention to leave the money. All those involved will have to return the money.”

    The governor said those involved had tried to stop the commission from sitting and caused the disqualification of Justice Mohammed Surajo, the former Chairman of the commission by an appeal court in Kaduna.

    Masari said the state government was determined to continue with the sitting of the commission “and the results had emerged and we are ready to continue with the procedure of recovering the money.”

    Chairman of the Commission, Ado Mohammed, said it received 12 memoranda.

    Mohammed added that three of the memoranda were abandoned by the writers while two were disqualified for lack of relevance to the investigation.

    The chairman said eight of the memoranda were useful to the commission as they had revealed how state funds were diverted by the officials of the past administration.

    “During the six months of the commission’s sitting, it discovered that N50.5 billion belonging to the Katsina Government had been diverted by ex-Gov. Shema and his cohorts.

    “The commission discovered concrete evidences that indicated that the funds had been diverted as they were not in the state government accounts as the records of the handing over notes had indicated.

    “The commission went through the handing over notes where the monies were allegedly available but we could not trace them,” he said.

    Mohammed commended the Katsina state government for giving them the opportunity to serve

    The Katsina state government set up the panel to investigate the alleged missing funds within the last nine months of former Gov. Shema’s administration.

  • Katsina to become economic hub, says Masari

    Katsina to become economic hub, says Masari

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has promised to reposition the state into an economic hub of the country.
    The governor gave the assurance at an interactive session with the state indigenes resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja
    Masari, who described the session as bipartisan gathering, said it was aimed at reviewing the various policies implemented by his administration since inception with a view to charting a way forward.
    He stressed that the goal of his administration was to create an enabling environment that would encourage both local and international investors to invest in the state.
    Masari said the government was open and not scared of constructive criticism, adding that such criticism would spur the government to be proactive and deliver more dividends of democracy to the electorate.
    He blamed decay in the state’s infrastructure to negligence from successive governments and relevant stakeholders.
    The governor said that stakeholders in the state had ignored the state government over the years, instead of holding them accountable to spur positive economic changes in the state.
    “We do not have reason to be where we are. Stakeholders in the state have decided to ignore and expect just few people to take up responsibility of changing the narratives of Katsina.
    “In terms of poverty, Katsina ranked third position; in Federal Government allocation, Katsina ranked seventh position; the state also has 15 honourable members at the National Assembly, ranking fourth highest represented state,” he said.
    He said the wage bill in the local government was about half, if not more than the allocation accrued to the state government from Federation Account.
    According to Masari, when he took over the mantle of leadership of Katsina, he found the state in a deplorable situation, adding that its health sector was in bad shape.
    The governor explained that the current administration had so far improved the state healthcare service delivery by engaging highly qualified medical personnel in the sector and upgrade facilities.
    He said as part of efforts to reduce cost of governance, state officials rarely travelld on foreign trips except occasionally where they are sponsored by host country for major functions.
    The governor, therefore, called on investors to invest more in the state, describing the state as investors’ haven, with assurance that his administration would continue to prioritize education in the state.
    Masari disclosed that his administration had introduced a number of empowerment and resettlement schemes to reduce redundancy and curb the activities of a notorious group in the state.
    “We have also intensified our collaboration with National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to help curb the rising rate of drug abuse in the state,” he added.
    The Katsina State Commissioner for Health, Mrs Mariatu Usmam, disclosed that arrangements had been concluded to establish Katsina Teaching Hospital, College of Midwifery and Post Basic Nursing Institute.
    She said that the state government had renovated, upgraded and equipped over 100 health facilities across the state in the last two years.
    Senator Abu Ibrahim, representing Katsina South Senatorial District, hailed Masari for harnessing the great potential of Katsina through investment drive.
    The lawmaker said under Masari much success were being recorded in education, agriculture, health, water resources, work, housing and transportation.

  • Most states would have collapsed without FG’s intervention, says Katsina governor

    Most states would have collapsed without FG’s intervention, says Katsina governor

    Katsina state Governor, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari has said that without the intervention of the Federal government, many of the states in the country would not have been able to pay the salaries of their workers and would have collapsed in the face of dwindling oil revenue.
    Speaking at a town hall meeting with Katsina state indigenes resident in Abuja on Sunday, Governor Masari said the intervention of the federal government has helped many of the states to stay afloat as what they get from the federation is not enough for about 27 of the states to pay salaries of their workers.
    The governor said since the present administration in the state came into office, it has received intervention from the federal government on four different occasions to address issues of salaries, gratuity and pension of workers in the state, but lamented that his government is still faced with a huge challenge in terms of funding the operation of the local government system in the state.
    According to the governor, federal allocation to the 34 local government councils in the state is not enough for them to pay salaries of their workers, pointing out that while the councils receive about N3.6 billion monthly from the federations account, their total wage bill stands at about N3.7 billion.
    He stressed however that while some of the local government areas can afford to stand on their own, some others, especially the big local government areas has to rely on others to survive.
    He listed federal financial intervention to the state to include the bailout fund of about N11.8billion, N10 billion special intervention to each of 36 states for capital projects, a monthly intervention of N1 billion to the states to assist the state in the payment of salaries and pension as well as N14.2 billion Paris Club refund.
    He disclosed that N6.7 billion from the Paris Club refund will be used to settle arrears of gratuity and pension of civil servants in the state up to June 2016 and that of local government upto March 2016.
    While lamenting the current situation of things in the state, Governor Masari said presently, the state is ranked third in the national poverty index and seventh in revenue allocation in the country, adding that the state has reason to be in the position it currently found itself.

  • Masari’s focused strides in Katsina

    Aminu Masari,the governor of Katsina State embodies the key essentials of a remarkable leader. He is decisive in taking very tough decisions, has empathy, guiding subordinates through challenges,he is focused,always planning ahead and most importantly is his unquestionable commitment to changing the fortunes of his dear Katsina State.His appearance belies the real Masari,that is blunt and never afraid of going against the current.

    Nigeria only took notice of him when in 2003 he became the Speaker,House of Representatives.How he managed the House,that has every semblance with Fuji House of Commotion,a soap opera,is a testimony to his leadership.You must be patient and accommodating to manage all shades of characters- the good,the bad and the ugly,that are called honourables. When Olusegun Obasanjo embarked upon his third term project,Masari,like Senator George Akume another unsung hero of the anti third term  war, were effective in crushing the coup against the constitution.If Obasanjo was ever guilty of plotting a coup,the third term project was undoubtedly the one he should have been tried for.

    According to Masari “If you want to exploit people, deny them education.And in the North education is being denied to the public because public schools there have collapsed.The only schools functioning are private schools,but how many parents can afford them? Secondly, the public health system has also collapsed. So now people have to provide water, security, education, health care system and every other thing for themselves”. In a fundamental sense this quote  encapsulates the consistency of his vision and believe.In 2013,when he made that statement he had two years before,lost the governorship elections to Ibrahim Shema.And another two years before he will contest and win the governorship election.But Masari unlike most politicians,who lack convictions  has kept faith,and is faithfully serving implementing these critical sectors.In Katsina State Masari is known as mai chika alkawari- someone whose word is his bond.He has the memory of an elephant- he never forgets.

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund(UNICEF),puts the number of out of school children in katsina State at over 620,000 and 55% of this number  are girls.Of this number 74% have never seen the four walls of a school and 5% are drop outs.The implications not just for Katsina State,but for the entire country is grave.The effect of our failure to educate the girl child is already obvious, in the unacceptable high infant mortality rates,recycled poverty and the low life expectancy rate.

    In 2016 budget education got the lion share of 22 billion naira,a clear statement of actions,beyond intentions.At the center of the strategy has been creating a conducive environment for learning – rehabilitation,construction of classrooms and equipping of laboratories.Increase in enrollment had put tremendous pressure on facilities and on learning itself,as the teachers are not just enough. Masari’s other headache is furniture for about 700,000 pupils.The Government Unity School,Malumfashi – open to students from the north,has been completely turned around.Same with the Science School Malumfashi.The ambitious model for Katsina State schools.For the first time in 15 years teachers who had been neglected were promoted.And more than 2,000 teachers have been employed, but it needs a further 7,000 teachers.Presently classrooms are overcrowded- 80 pupils,instead of the more manageable 35.Majority are naturally sitting on the ground.The decision to engage the services of the Ahmadu Bello University Department of Education to train teachers shows a holistic approach.

    Katsina State economy is agrarian,depending largely on allocation from the Federation account.Internally generated revenue (IGR) is totally non existent. Thus the only way it can meet its challenges is prudent management of resources and elimination of waste.And Masari hasn’t shied away from doing the needful. The first programme that was yanked is the Ramadan feeding Programme which hither to benefited only a tinny segment of the society.His conscience wouldn’t allow him in the face of the numerous challenges to continue the programme.He said “Can you imagine a governor that has not provided basic requirement of primary education, but is going to spend billions feeding people during Ramadan?Give them good education and they will find their level.” Thats the essential Masari that Katsina indigenes must contend with.

    The 2017 budget has a capital expenditure of 92 billion naira,of which a substantial part of it is devoted to education,health,water supply,security and agriculture,as he still has his eyes fixed on them.Key again is working with agencies like UNICEF,that has embarked on an Enrollment Drive Campaign.An estimated N120 billion is needed to turn around the educational and health sector.Katsina State has the highest maternal mortality rate.The reason why the government is tackling the healthcare sector. The 23 General Hospitals and 30 Healthcare centers are being given a comprehensive turnaround. Already the Katsina State Teaching Hospital,the target is to facilitate the establishment of a college of medicine in the state university,to address issues of manpower.

    Experience,not necessarily age can be of benefit. But Masari is combining both.The Masari Dialogue and Amnesty Programme was initially scoffed at by his political opponents who had over the years watched while bandits overran ten (10) Local Government Areas of the state, rustled cattle and committed all kinds of criminality and with impunity. When force didn’t work,he went back to the drawing board.The result was the surrender of more than 104 AK 47 rifles by the bandits,through the Amnesty programme.More fundamental is that the bandits signed off to the state governments rehabilitation programme.Katsina State is now a safer place.

    Masari fears a revolution in Nigeria.To him it is delusional to think it can’t happen. But is this what has informed his social commitment to the poor? Are his economic and social policies  informed more by enlightened self interest or self preservation?The concern seems genuine,considering the passion,with which he tackles the issue of job creation. To some extent the consequences might have also pushed him to continuously work at bettering the lot of the poor. He told the Ambassador of South Korea on a visit to the state “What we seek are simple machines, equipment and tools that can be used by our rural dwellers to make pencils, exercise books, erasers, and so on, that they can sell and improve their lives.” The Empowerment Scheme is also informed by this compassion and a perspective fear of what might be if their situation,alienation and deprivation are not addressed. He said “violence can occur and maybe this time, it may not be religion,but between the rich and the poor and the rich will be determined by the type of clothes he wears, the house he lives, the car he drives and the area where he lives”. A very frightening future if the life of the rural poor is not improved upon.

    Being a team player he has spread the challenge. His deputy has been saddled with ensuring that the agricultural sector is revived. The governor wants about 800,000 hectares cultivated.The business of government is making the inputs like fertilizers, good quality seeds available at affordable price and at the right time. With 61 water bodies suitable for irrigation the target is for Katsina State to become number one in cotton and rice production. He has commissioned the National Research Institute of Chemical Technology to build a tomato processing plant at Danja. The Danja Sugar Factory, is expected to commence operation soon. This will reduce farm waste, earn the farmers better money and save Nigeria the scarce foreign exchange. The Central Bank puts the importation of tomato paste at over 1 billion dollars.There are plans to construct a dam at Danja.So far 2 billion naira has been spent on rehabilitation and construction of dams.

    So much has been  written about the face off between him and Ibrahim Shema his predecessor.Masari from his narrative was pushed to the wall,by the refusal of the immediate past regime to answer questions about the finances of the state under his watch. He said “It was not our intention to set up the commission of enquiry,but the previous administration refused to give us explanations on the missing funds”. Before the former governor got an injection against the Justice Muhammad Surajo Commission the testimony of his Aide – de -Camp Shehu Koko of how he disbursed 680million naira to security agencies during the 2015 elections raises serious questions about the job description of ADC’s. How can an officer of the law be involved in disbursing money for whatever project.These are areas that moving forward the police authorities must address.ADC’s job should be protection of their principals.

    Masari,like most Northerners,believe in moving forward,so as not to get bugged down,but not in this particular case.Those close to him insist that the money involved is “just too much” for the governor to over look.The money in question is put at about 1O billion naira Sure -P Funds.His admonition to “Governors and local government chairmen who behave like emperors, doing whatever they like with the wealth of the people because they depend on Federation Account and not Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).” shows the depth of his anger.

  • Masari bans unlawful assembly in Katsina

    Masari bans unlawful assembly in Katsina

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has signed an order banning unlawful assembly in the state.
    The ban was announced in a statement by Masari’s media aide, Abdu Labaran.
    Labaran said the February 27 order was in consonance with the power conferred on the governor by Section 97 (A) of the Penal Code.
    “Governor Masari has said any assembly of two or more persons in any part of Katsina State is, hereby, banned.
    “The assembly, by whatever name and whether members are armed or not, is banned.
    “And if the objective of the assembly is to kill, injure, harass and intimidate the public or provoke breach of public peace, or go against the government or any public servant in exercising his lawful powers, resist execution of any law or of any legal process; or commit any mischief or criminal trespass or other offence, or enforce any right or supposed right by means of criminal force or show of criminal force; or compel any person to do what he/she is not legally bound to do or prevent to do what he/she is legally entitled to do by means of criminal force or show of criminal force, is banned,” he said.
    The statement added that defaulters will be prosecuted.