Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Gov. El Rufai

  • Kaduna Govt. Bans Social Gathering in School Premises

    Kaduna Govt. Bans Social Gathering in School Premises

    The Kaduna State Government has banned all social events, weddings, shows and entertainment in public school premises.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Yusuf Saleh, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

    Saleh said that the move was to protect school infrastructure from vandals.

    “For a very long time, some of our schools were being used for all kinds of activities, and at the end of the day, school facilities were being vandalised.

    “Every day, we receive complaints and demands from citizens to construct, renovate or fix one facility or the other in schools and this involves a lot of money.

    “It is, therefore, critical to take proactive steps to protect the school’s infrastructure and this is one of such steps,” he said.

    He disclosed that a circular had already been sent to all the principals and head teachers in secondary and primary schools, directing them to stop giving out school premises for events and social gatherings.

    He said that some of the schools do not have fences, stressing that plans were underway to construct perimeter fences in all schools across the state.

    He added that the ministry was also strengthening partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs and Kaduna State Vigilant Service to provide the needed security in schools.

    According to him, the efforts will help address the security challenges affecting the smooth operation of some schools in the state.

    Reacting to the development, the Citizens Co-Chair, Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM), Mr. Tijjani Aliyu, commended the state government for responding to the citizens’ call to protect school facilities.

    The move, he said, will reduce the level of destruction of school facilities due to social events being hosted in school premises.

    He said that KADBEAM,at a stakeholders’ dialogue on challenges confronting girls education in the state, urged the government to find a lasting solution to the wanton destruction of school facilities.

    He added that stakeholders at the engagement, supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn, a UK governance programme, noted the need for community members to support the government in maintaining school facilities.

  • Constitution Review: FG is over loaded— El Rufai

    Constitution Review: FG is over loaded— El Rufai

    By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna

    Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state has argued that devolution of powers is necessary because the current structure overburdens the federal government with too many responsibilities which it cannot efficiently handle.

    The governor further said that the APC Committee on True Federalism which he headed, had identified legislative interventions that the National Assembly could more easily undertake to achieve a truly balanced, equitable and fair federal structure.

    El Rufai who made this known at the public hearing of the senate committee on the review of the 1999 constitution on Wednesday, revealed that ‘’we also drafted bills to alter the constitution and amend or repeal existing legislations to achieve the overall objective of true federalism.’’
    The governor who spoke in his personal capacity, proposed 10 items that should be shared responsibilities between the state and federal governments.
    El Rufai argued that ‘’the reality of our security situation today requires that Nigeria must strengthen its military and security agencies. This includes decentralizing the police to enable the states to exercise effective control in securing their residents and communities.’
    ‘’ We need to have federal, state and community police, with each granted sufficient powers to make them effective in securing the areas assigned to them and cooperating closely with each other’’, he further said.
    According to him, ‘’those expressing concerns about the ability of the states to bear the cost of policing should realize that apart from the payment of salaries by the federal government, most of the operational and capital costs of the Nigeria Police are borne by state and local governments.’’
    The governor argued that fear of abuse of State Police by sub-national governments is misplaced because a constitutional or statutory framework can be enacted to ensure federal intervention in cases of such abuses.

    El Rufai also said that the constitution should be altered to remove the Police Service Commission because it is an unnecessary hinderance to effective policing in Nigeria.

    ‘’ The power to hire and fire police officers should revert fully and totally to the Inspector General of Police, under the supervision of the National Police Council, as envisaged by the Constitution,’’ he advocated.

    The governor recommended that all ‘’mineral resources, including oil and gas and solid minerals, in the states, which will in turn pay royalties and taxes to the Federation Account.’’
    ‘’States already control land within their territories, courtesy of the Land Use Act, which is incorporated into the Constitution by reference,’’ he argued.

    According to him, ‘’one of the reasons why mining has not quite taken off in our country is because of the dichotomy and total disconnect between the federal institution that issues licenses for mining and the state agencies that ultimately control not only the land and title thereto, but any approval to undertake any development on the land. ‘’
    The governor also argued that states should be empowered to establish, staff and run their own judiciary up to appellate level.

    ‘’It is an anomaly to have a National Judicial Council appointing high court judges for states. This should be the responsibility of State Judicial Councils.

    ‘’The remit of the National Judicial Council should be limited to the federal high and appellate courts. The constitutional amendment should clarify that the states can establish courts to exercise jurisdiction at first instance, or on appeal on matters for which the states can make laws.

    ‘’ In essence, I am suggesting that judges of State High Courts, Sharia Courts of Appeal and Customary Courts of Appeal should be nominated by the State Judicial Council, subject to confirmation by the House of Assembly,’’ he said.

    El Rufai further said that states should also be enabled to establish State Courts of Appeal, similar to what we used to have at the regional level under the 1963 Republican Constitution.

    ‘’The State Court of Appeal will entertain appeals from State High Courts, Customary and Sharia Courts of Appeal, on matters on which the State House of Assembly is empowered by the Constitution to make laws.

    ‘’ This arrangement will make our judicial processes faster, encourage competition, deepen our jurisprudence and restore citizens’ trust. It will also significantly reduce the burden on the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria,’’ he added.

    The governor argued that each state should decide the model of democratic local government that best suits it because Nigeria is a federation of the 36 states and the Federal Government.

    ‘’Listing the 774 Local Governments in the Constitution and trying to establish for them direct relations with the Federal Government violates the spirit of federalism.
    ‘’Each state should decide how many local governments it can efficiently run and fund for better governance and delivery of public goods.

    ‘’Each state should decide what typology of local governance fits its historical, cultural and administrative circumstances, but the resulting framework must be democratic, with periodic elections at no longer than four year intervals,’’ he added.

    El Rufai also said that ‘’adopting this proposal means that the revenue allocation formula will specify what proportion of federation transfers is for the local governments.’’
    ‘’No state government shall be allowed under any guise to take control of local government funds, and the Constitution should entrench safeguards and sanctions, including withholding state funds due from the Federation Account in the event of any reported diversions, impoundment or misappropriation’’, he said.

    The governor recalled that the APC Committee on True Federalism’s recommendations are clear, not controversial and simply conform with common sense.

    ‘’For instance, why should the Federal Government be enabled by the Constitution to fix a national minimum wage that it can afford but most of the states, has been unable to implement?
    ‘’For the records, Kaduna State is the first government to pay the national minimum wage approved in 2019, with consequential adjustments of up to 66% for most state civil servants.

    ‘A minimum wage is certainly desirable to protect citizens from exploitation, but it should be on the Concurrent List due to variations in cost of living and ability to pay,’’ he added

    According to him, the proposed constitution amendment will enable the Federal Government to legislate a minimum wage for federal employees and those that reside and work in the FCT only.

  • Gov. El-Rufai’s wife shares photo of she and boyfriend

    Gov. El-Rufai’s wife shares photo of she and boyfriend

    Why would the wife of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, do this to her loving husband?

    To even think that they are now grandparents, why would she want to hurt everyone? To even think the photo was shared on the micro blogging site, Twitter?

    Well, Hajia Hadiza Isma el-Rufai has decided to make many laugh as she shared a throwback photo of ‘herself and boyfriend’.

    She just shared a throwback photo and captioned it, “My (then) boyfriend and I”

    The ‘boyfriend’ on a closer look was her then boyfriend, Nasir el-rufai!

    Wearing a white safari, he had his arms around his girlfriend as they posed for photos.

    That’s Hajia Isma for you—witty and quite creative in her submissions.

    She met Nasir in 1976 at the Kaduna School of Basic Studies. Both went to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where she studied Architecture and El-Rufai read Quantity Surveying.

    They got married in 1985.

    She has a BSc and MSc in Architecture (1983) and an MBA (1992) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, as well as a Masters in Creative Writing (2012) from Bath Spa University, United Kingdom.

    She once worked as a lecturer at the Department of Architecture at Kaduna Polytechnic. She also worked for a few years at the National Electric Power Authority, before venturing into private practice, before working in private practice. She now runs Yasmin El-Rufai Foundation, set up to honour their daughter, who died in 2001.

    She has also written a book ‘An abundance of Scorpions”, described by Helon Habila as “a heartbreaking tale of loss and an uplifting story of a woman’s strength and determination”

  • El Rufai opens up Kaduna, gives guidelines

    El Rufai opens up Kaduna, gives guidelines

    Gov. Nasir el Rufai has opened up Kaduna State after 75 days of partial lockdown, following the invocation of the Quarantine Act.
    In a state broadcast on Tuesday, the governor paid tribute to the people of the state for their immense sacrifices in the last two and half months as containment measures against Covid-19 were implemented.
    He said that as from Wednesday, the Quarantine Order would be amended to permit significant reopening of the state, especially businesses and places of worships.
    He, however, said that schools and markets would remain closed because at this stage of COVID-19 containment, it was still considered unsafe for markets and schools to reopen.
    He promised that government would keep engaging the relevant stakeholders on the matter to determine the appropriate timing and conditions precedent.
    ‘’Businesses can reopen, subject to the provision of thermometers for temperature checks, sanitizers or hand washing equipment and physical distancing measures within all facilities. Working hours will be between 9am and 3p.m. daily,’’ he said.
    The governor further said that church services are allowed only on Sundays and mosques are allowed to conduct only Friday Jumat services for the time being, subject to compliance with the safety stipulations.
    El Rufai maintained that transport operators must reduce capacity to not more than two passengers per row and not more than 50 per cent of capacity.
    The governor said that the ban on intra-state travel has been lifted but government officials would continue to control state boundaries to reduce unauthorised interstate travel.
    ‘’Within the state, security checkpoints will be allowed only to enforce compliance with the night curfew.
    ”During the day, any violations of the adjusted Quarantine Order like failure to wear facemasks will be enforced by Operation Yaki, KASTLEA, the Vigilance Service and Mobile Courts,’’ he said.
    According to him, ‘’supermarkets and personal services providers such as hair dressing and barbing salons can reopen; hotels can fully open, but with their restaurants and bars offering only room service”.
    The governor warned that restaurants may all reopen after decontamination, but still restricted to takeaway services.
    On office, he said that public servants would be summoned back to work in phases to be announced by the Head of Service.
    El Rufai cautioned that after the opening up of the state, the next step of staying safe while pursuing socio-economic activities was strictly in the hands of each individual.
    ‘’While we require citizens to practice personal responsibility, the places where they work, worship or shop and the vehicles they travel in must also protect their health and safety.
    ”Any facility or sector that violates the guidelines will be closed down under the Quarantine Order No. 2 of June 2020 that I will sign today for immediate gazetting,” he said. (NAN)

  • BREAKING: Gov. El Rufai tests positive for coronavirus

    BREAKING: Gov. El Rufai tests positive for coronavirus

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has tested positive for coronavirus.

    He is in self-isolation as required by the case management guidelines of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

    He said, “Earlier this week, I submitted a sample for the Covid-19 test. The result came in this evening, and I regret to say that it is positive.

    “According to the protocols for managing Covid-19, I am in self-isolation as required by the case management guidelines of the NCDC for someone that is no showing symptoms.

    “I wish to appeal to the people of Kaduna State to continue to closely observe the preventive measures already announced.

    “It is most important that everybody should do their utmost to stay safe, stay home and stay alive.

    “The Deputy Governor is chairing our Covid-19 Taskforce and will continue to issue statements from time to time.”

  • Gov. El-Rufai visits former Kano Emir, Sanusi, in Awe

    Gov. El-Rufai visits former Kano Emir, Sanusi, in Awe

    Gov Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday visited the dethroned Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, in Awe, his current abode in Nasarawa State.

    Our Correspondent reports that the convoy of the Kaduna State Governor arrived the residence about 12:45 p.m.

    Upon arrival, the governor went into a close door meeting with the deposed Emir. The meeting lasted more than one hour.

    Our Correspondent reports that the duo later drove to the Friday Mosque located at the palace of the Emir of Awe, with none of them ready to speak with anxious newsmen on what they discussed.

    The Emir of Awe, Isa Abubakar, and his Shabu counterpart, Sangari Shabu, Mohammed Bwala, had earlier visited the deposed Emir.

    Sanusi, who was dethroned by the Kano government on March 9, 2020 was initially taken to Loko, in Nasarawa State, before relocati9ng to Awe.

  • Gov. El-Rufai presents 24 Jeeps to High Court judges

    Gov. El-Rufai presents 24 Jeeps to High Court judges

    Kaduna, Feb. 17, 2020 Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Monday presented 24 Jeeps to High Court judges, as part  of efforts to enhance the welfare of judicial officers in the state.

    The governor, said while presenting the vehicles to the judges in Kaduna that more vehicles would be provided to other judges.

    El-Rufai also disclosed plans by the government to construct housing estates for the judges.

    “The next beneficiaries will be Khadis of Sharia Court of Appeal and judges of the Customary Court of Appeal. They will be delivered soon by God’s grace, not only the incoming judges but also the existing ones.

    “The state government has plans to develop housing estate for senior judges, as currently, judges are accommodated in government buildings scattered across the state.

    “We believe that if we develop housing estate where all the senior judges will be in comfortable accommodation, with club house and shopping facility, they will have a self-contained community and better security..

    “We are working on that and very soon the developer will approach heads of courts to look at the design that are suitable,’’ he said.

    The governor added that the government was working on retirement and post retirement housing scheme for judicial  staff, as it is one of the issues that bother most civil servants as they approach retirement.

    “We are working on a scheme to brief heads of courts while they develop houses for sale to senior judges and provide mortgage facilities for them at single digits interest for them to acquire these houses and pay over a period of 15-20 years.

    “Every citizens of Kaduna is entitled to a house, we cannot provide for everyone, but we will provide a framework that will give everyone the opportunity to borrow and buy a house over 15 to 20 years

    “We already have this in place, we have agreement with three banks and we already have N4 billion to lend to people,’’ the governor said.

    According, to him, the government also has plan to provide one central area for all courts in Kaduna instead of the scattered manner they are located.

    “We are looking at a place where we can build something similar to the Federal Capital Territory with about 20  high courts in one place and relocate the courts scattered all over town.

    “We will do something similar in Zaria, Kachia, Kafanchan, Birnin-Gwari and Saminaka and in all the major sections of the state, so that dispensation of justice will be easier and better.

    “We will work with the judiciary to put-in technology to help ease the work load of judges,’’ El-Rufai said.

    He lamented that judges over work themselves and are under-appreciated, noting that Kaduna state judiciary is ranked number one by the World Bank Ranking on the ease of doing business and in handling commercial dispute.

    He reiterated his continuous support to the judiciary, urging them to remain the best as he would push for more judges to reduce the work load.

    On his part, the state’s Chief Judge, Mohammed Bello thanked the state government for the gesture, saying that it was first of its kind.

    “It is an honour done to the judiciary, where each judge will have a car given to him by the state government.

    “We thank you so much for all you have done and other things you are doing for us in the judiciary.

    “We look forward to receiving the remaining vehicles for sharia court of appeal and customary court of appeal judges,’’ he said.

    Bello disclosed that he was speaking with the National Judicial Service Commission on the redeployment of 47 additional judges to the state.

  • Gov. El-Rufai inaugurates Milk Farm Project for 1000 households

    Gov. El-Rufai inaugurates Milk Farm Project for 1000 households

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Friday inaugurated a 1000 Household Milk Farm Project in Damau,  Kubau Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor, at the inauguration, said the project was a joint venture between the state government, Danish dairy giant Arla and Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

    According to him, it will  help expand national capacity to produce high quality milk and reduce over reliance on importation.

    He said: “ We regard this as a pragmatic and sustainable solution to security challenges that now accompany the nomadic livestock production.

    “The reserve when fully built, will have 1000 dairy farmers  securing better livelihood in the five districts, with 200 households per district.

    “It is with 2,800 cows per district making 14,000 across the five districts, while each livestock farmer will have 5hc of land complete with a farm house, cattle shed and irrigated land.’’

    He explained that the project is designed to have other facilities including schools, police post, primary health centres, stores and market.

    El-Rufai said it is a public private partnership which will provide solar power and water to the farms.

    “The KDSG signed an MOU on Sept. 9, 2019 with Arla food to transform the livestock sector in the state.

    “KDSG, with the support of Central Bank of Nigeria and Arla of Denmark agreed to invest in a project that will create jobs in the livestock sector to promote economic development.

    “It will also help resolve security problems by demonstrating a viable alternative to the itinerant method of rearing of cattle and sheep.’’

    He noted that they will infuse modern technology into the livestock production, improve yield and empower farmers and replace strife with prosperity

    “The Damau farm will be open to every Kaduna State resident, also for people of any ethnicity and religion, to apply and make a living from livestock farming,’’ he said.

    He said that  same gesture will be replicated in all the gazetted grazing reserves in the state to eliminate nomadic livestock farming, educate the children and empower them economically in modernised diary production

    “The KDSG will also offer Certificate of Occupancy to the 1,000 dairy cattle farmers for their farmland through sustainable cooperative with access to adequate water.

    “While Arla food will also provide the needed commercial services and will purchase, collect, process and bring the local milk to the market

    “In the near future, we envisage the emergence of yoghurt, water and livestock, cheese and meat production.’’

    He commended Denmark for the investment and support and Central Bank for its single digit interest intervention fund.

    In his remarks, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Haruna Usman, said it was as good initiative based on global system of grazing cattle.

    Usman called on the Federal Government to replicate such projects across the 36 states to reduce crisis associated with local grazing method.

    According to him, it will drastically reduce incessant conflicts and help settle herders in one community for the benefit of all.

    Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of the Embassy of Denmark in Nigeria,  Jesper Kamp said Nigeria has a fast growing population and the project would help the economy by creating more jobs for the people.

    According to him, the development of the dairy sector will bring about positive benefit to the security situation by controlling the pastoralists while increasing food security.

    He said the gesture will improve the lives of local farmers and sustainable development and growth.

    He said the initiative will also improve security of lives and property, especially the age long farmer- herder conflict in the state and beyond.

    According to him, the project will involve milk collection, training of local farmers, water and pasture provision.

    He noted that the project will collaborate toward achieving the target of creating over 1000 thousand jobs in the next ten years.

    Representative of Arla Food, Steen Hadsbjerg said the venture would engineer growth.

    Mr Sabo Aminu, the Chairman of Kubau Local Government appreciated the governor for fulfilling his promise to the people of the community. (NAN)