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Tag: Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai

  • El-Rufai appoints Hadiza Balarabe as Senior Adviser-Counsellor

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has again appointed his recently announced running mate, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe as Senior Adviser-Counsellor.

    A statement from Government House said that, the appointment of Dr. Balarabe who is currently the  Executive Secretary of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency is with immediate effect.
    According to the statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, Dr. Balarabe in her new function is expected to work from Government House, overseeing key agencies reporting to the Governor like the State Pensions Board, KADGIS and KASUPDA, advising the governor on matters of human capital development, and understudying him and the Deputy Governor in all aspects of governance.
    “As Senior Adviser-Counsellor she will be at the heart of government, attending meetings of the State Executive and Security Councils. This new responsibility places her within the second echelon of the government, next to the two elected leaders of the executive branch. She will join other senior officials to drive the policy and governance aspirations of the government in the remaining crucial months of the current mandate.

    Read Also: El-Rufai flies Muslim-Muslim ticket

    “The second echelon of the Kaduna State Government comprises of senior officials who are copied recipients of all correspondence from the governor, as part of Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s strategy to ensure that not just him and the Deputy Governor are abreast of all issues and decisions the government is dealing with. These senior officials act as the principal advisers to the governor, and also function as implementors and monitors of the governance agenda of the government.

    “In her new role, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe will attend all meetings and activities in the Governor’s office, and perform other assigned responsibilities.

    “Dr. Hadiza Balarabe is the first woman to join the second echelon since Hadiza Bala-Usman, Governor El-Rufai’s first chief of staff, left to take up the leadership of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

    “The new appointment is expected to further expose this accomplished medical doctor and public health expert to the entire workings of the Kaduna State Government.” The statement read.

  • We will investigate allegations of malpractices – El Rufai

    …… APC LG congress peaceful 

    Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said allegations of irregularities in last Saturday’s local government election will be investigated and steps will be taken to remedy them.

    Kaduna State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Felix Hassan Hyet had on Sunday addressed a press conference, alleging that, his party was shortchanged in the polls.

    Speaking with journalists after the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government congress for Kaduna north local government, held at command guest house in Kaduna, Governor El Rufai said, despite “human factor” that affected some aspects of the election, the voting machine worked “perfectly”.

    It would be recalled that though voting during the local government election was free and fair, some electoral officials allegedly disappeared from some polling stations without announcing the results, prompting the opposition People’s Democratic Party to accuse the El Rufai government of interfering with the process.

    Read Also: El Rufai’s free education, feeding policy

    While acknowledging that some malfeasance were reported, Governor El Rufai promised that they would be investigated.

    According to him, “We have received reports of some electoral officers leaving their position. The electronic voting machine worked very well but the human factors are always there must be addressed. They will be investigated and we will learn from it. But what we are happy about is that the electronic voting machines worked perfectly. They also contained vital information that election riggers do not know about. We will investigate everything and we will take every step to remedy them”.

    Governor El Rufai said that the outcome of the local government election has clearly indicated that members of the All Progressive Congress remain united.

    “Our Party is 100% united ahead of 2019 election. Our performance in the last local government election has shown that our party is united and one” he said.

    Meanwhile, the local government congress of the APC in Kaduna went smoothly as all the executives of the 23 local governments were returned through affirmation.

    Chairman of the APC national committee monitoring team to Kaduna state, Comrade Saleh Moddibbo said the congresses went on smoothly in all the local government areas of the state.

  • El-Rufai visits Birnin Gwari

    Assures communities that terrorists will be defeated 

     

    Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Monday visited communities in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area where armed hoodlums had killed 45 persons.

    The Governor who arrived Birnin Gwari around 12 noon proceeded to the palace of the Emir, Malam Jibril Zubair Mai Gwari II where he met with the emir and community leaders, after which he proceeded to Gwaska, the scene of the latest fatal attack.

    Governor El-Rufai according to a release by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan expressed his sorrow and offered condolences to the people.

    According to him, “I came here to share the pain and anguish of our people, the predicament of innocent citizens whose lives were cut short due to the terrorism of bandits and criminals who have been tormenting us.

    “I and my team will be proceeding to Gwaska and other communities to see for ourselves and talk directly to the people. But I want to say again, that we are not sleeping and by the grace of God we will overcome this evil act and the terrorism being unleashed on our people.

    The release said the Emir of Birnin-Gwari in his response, praised the Federal and state governments for demonstrating commitment to the plight of his people.

    “We are grateful for your deep condolences and empathy. We are grateful for all your commitment to resolving the plight of Birnin Gwari people. As a member of the State Security Council, I am in the know of Federal and State Government commitment.

    “The IGP and the GOC were here and have confirmed the establishment of a Battalion of the army and Police Area Command. I am happy that you are going to Gwaska and other communities to see for yourself.”

    Aruwan said, after prayers for the souls of those killed in the attacks, the Governor and his entourage departed the palace at 1:14 pm for Gwaska.

    “Governor El-Rufai, who arrived Gwaska at exactly 2:10 pm, was taken round and briefed by Malam Isa Musa, the leader of the community, who narrated how the bandits carried out the heinous attack.

    Musa said that the attackers “were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and are not ordinary gunmen. They came from different directions and circled us shooting and burning our houses with impunity.

    “We appreciate all your commitment but we wish to let you know that only full military action on both land and air can match these terrorists. They are mercenaries and marksmen. As you can see it’s about seven kilometers to Dansadau in Zamfara State and other boundaries with Katsina and Niger with us here in Birnin Gwari Local Government.”

    Governor El-Rufai who left the community assured them that both the state and federal governments will intensify action to address the lingering problem of rural banditry. He told the people that government will assist in rebuilding the affected communities and he urged them to continue to be law-abiding.

    Before departing Birnin Gwari for Kaduna, the Governor, in the company of the member representing Birnin Gwari/Giwa Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Hassan Adamu Shekarau, addressed the people of the area who had fled from communities that had been devastated by the attacks.

    The Governor briefed them on all the measures being taken by the state and federal governments to improve the security situation in their communities.

    “The governor was accompanied by officials,  including the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal. the Garrison Commander, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen O.J. Akpor, ACP Ahmad Tijjani Abdullahi, Political Adviser, Uba Sani, Security Adviser, Col. Yakubu Yusuf (Rtd), Maryam Abubakar and Samuel Aruwan, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity.” The release read.

  • Akeredolu, El-Rufai make case for Curriculum review

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has expresed the need to restructure the education sector as a crucial step towards advancing development across all sectors in the country.

    Speaking at the 4th Distinguished Guest Lecture series of the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo, Governor Akeredolu said education policies should not be guided by political considerations but by serious concerns to accelerate pragmatic and systematic development of the country.

    The governor who is also the Visitor to UNIMED called on all stakeholders in the education sector to use the current challenges as a spring board to catalyze the country to greater heights by moving away from the unprofitable practice of certification which has rendered “thousands of graduates unemployable and helpless”.

    While emphasizing that education should be the veritable key to socio-economic development, Akeredolu agreed that the curriculum must be made to address peculiar problems confronting the country.

    He appreciated Governor El-Rufai who he described as a first-class brain for sharing his thoughts at the Distinguished Guest Lecture series of UNIMED.

    Akeredolu used the opportunity to assure that his administration’s policy on education will positively affect the present and future generations and its performance indices will be made manifest for all to appreciate.

    Delivering the 4th Distinguished Guest Lecture, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai who is the Governor of Kaduna State said for the Nigeria Education System to be reformed and made impactful to engineer development, the National Policy on Education was due to be overhauled.

    He said his state was already taking some steps in that direction.

    El-Rufai noted that the target of education should be knowledge acquisition driven by quality, based on Information Communication Technology, ICT, and not mere certification.

    According to him, teachers must be motivated to impact knowledge, while the school environment must be made conducive for teaching and learning process to be seamless.

    The governor who spoke on the topic ” Transforming Nigeria’s Educational System: Looking Back and Looking Forward, suggested the adoption of first degree as the minimum qualification for teaching in Nigeria as against the use of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).

  • El-Rufai condemns burning of church and police station

    ….orders investigation into death of laborer

     

    Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has condemned in strong terms, the burning of a church and Police post in Narayi, Chikun Local government area of the state on Thursday by angry mob.

    El-Rufai however ordered full investigation to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of the young Sylvester, whose death prompted the riotous conduct.

    The Governor in a statement through his media aide, Samuel Aruwan condemned the burning of the church and police station, saying that, “it is wrong for and illegal for anyone or group to take the law into their hands.

    According to the statement, the Governor also ordered an investigation into the circumstances of death of the labourer whose demise allegedly prompted the riotous conduct, as well as the apprehension of all those who partook in or enabled the acts of arson.

    The protesters had on Wednesday and Thursday in Narayi, Chikun local government area, burnt down a Celestial Church and the Narayi Police Post while protesting the death of the laborer.

    The pastor of the church, one Babatunde Shittu, was protected from being lynched by the mob by police and some residents of the community.

    “The governor commiserated with the family of the deceased, but added that everyone who had concerns about the circumstances of his death would allow the law enforcement agencies to handle the matter.

    “Kaduna State Government will not tolerate attacks on places of worship and public property such as the police post. In a state that has endured four decades of violent conflict, there can be no condoning an attack on the offices of security agencies or a place of worship, an act that has often invited needless reprisals and escalation.

    “The government is determined to ensure vigorous prosecution of anyone indicted by the police investigation into the matter.” The Governor said.

  • El-Rufai’s convoy attack: Governor cautions against reprisal

    El-Rufai’s convoy attack: Governor cautions against reprisal

    … 24-hour curfew imposed on 3 Kaduna LGAs

    Aftermath of the Tuesday’s  attack on Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s convoy by youths in Southern part of Kaduna State, the Governor has appealed to citizens not to retaliate.

    The Governor and his entourage were pelted with stones and some of the vehicles broken after addressing some demonstrators immediately after he chaired Kaduna State Security Council meeting in the area.

    The official residence of the local government chairman, Dr. Bege Katuka was also burnt.

    The governor’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan in a statement issued in Kaduna on Wednesday described the unfortunate incident as part of the burden of leadership. He added that the Governor is of the view that there must be no reaction to the incident other than a continued commitment to restore peace and harmony.

    Meanwhile,  a 24-hour curfew has been imposed on three local government areas of Zangon-Kataf, Kaura and Jema’a. The Kaduna State Security Council said it took the step based on credible intelligence about risks to lives and property in the affected areas.

    Aruwan statement quoted the Governor El-Rufai as saying that, “in the name of God, I am begging you. No one should take the law into his or her hand over what happened in Kafanchan. Although it is unfortunate, but we must rise above induced prejudice and hatred. We must defeat hate with patience, love and dedication to duty and not eye for an eye.

    “It is also a burden of leadership and we will, by the special grace of God, overcome these forces of darkness who are dividing our citizens using religion, ethnicity and politics. I commend the high sense of professionalism exhibited by security personnel.

    “I listened to three of the women who led the protesters as they asked me questions. I answered them and even invited them to a larger meeting, but they went on rampage and burnt the residence of the local government chairman.

    “The government of Kaduna State and the Security Council sympathize with the chairman of Jema’a local government, Dr.Bege Katuka and his family over the unfortunate incident that led to the burning of their home. Our prayers and support go with them,” the Governor said.

    On the curfew, Aruwan said, the governor will update the people of the state on the steps being taken to improve security in the state in a state-wide live radio interview on Wednesday night, from 8pm to 10 pm.

    He also disclosed that the Kaduna State Security Council also reaffirmed the ban on all processions and unlawful assembly throughout the state.

    The statement said that security agencies have also been empowered to arrest and prosecute any individual or groups that violate these orders.

    “Furthermore, the Security Council urged security operatives to ensure best practices in enforcing the directives.

    “The meeting, which was chaired by Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, had the following members of the Council in attendance: The Deputy Governor, Arc. Barnabas Yusuf Bala, Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh,, Director DSS, Mohammed Tijjani Wakili,, Brig. Gen. I. Isa, Commander, 1 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Rear Admiral T. T. Dakwat, Commandant Nigerian Navy School of Armament, Kachia and AVM Bello Garba, Base Commander, Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna,” the governors statement read.