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  • SOSG Approves N29bn Supplementary Budget

    SOSG Approves N29bn Supplementary Budget

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    Sokoto state government has made a supplementary budget in the sum of twenty nine billion, three hundred and eighty nine million naira (N29,389,000,000.00) for this year.

    Bello Muhammad said the budget, according to the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Hassan Muhammad Maccido will be used to offset the expenditure components of the state’s disbursements in the areas of personnel cost, over head cost and capital expenditure.

    This detail was revealed at the close of the state executive council meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Manir Muhammad Dan Iya.

    Briefing journalists after the meeting, Hassan gave the breakdown of the sum as eight hundred and four million naira (804,000,000) for personnel cost, sixteen billion, four hudred and seventy four million naira(16,474,000,000.00 ) for over head cost while twelve billion, one hundred and eleven million naira (12,111,000,000.00) is for capital projects.

    He said the reason for the supplementary budget is to utilize funds accruing to the state from additional revenue receipts this year ending to fund government’s programmes and projects for the remaining part of the year and up till the time that the 2023 budget will be pass into law.

    The commissioner also explained that the supplementary budget became necessary considering the fact that price of goods and services has increased and the government is currently executing various developmental projects which have reached different stages of completion; thus requiring additional funding, for which the contractors have applied for the variation to complete them.

  • SOSG N14b Scholarship Pays Off As Graduate Clinches Silver Medal, 76 Others First Class

    SOSG N14b Scholarship Pays Off As Graduate Clinches Silver Medal, 76 Others First Class

    By Muhammad Ibrahim Sokoto

    A Sokoto state indigene sponsored by the incumbent administration of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is a recipient of the first African silver medal for outstanding performance in Bio-Medical engineering at an Indian university.

    As contained in a release issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Muhammad Bello, Hassan Usman, who hails from fako village in Binji local government area of the state, was among 77 other students that graduated with first class degrees from Indian tertiary institutions.

    Another student, Dr Muzammil Lawal Maidoki, Dr who hails from Sokoto North local government, who while pursuing his study also memorized the Holy Qur’an and Sahih Bukhari, graduated with a first class degree in Medicine from Nahda University in Sudan.

    All the students were products of a scholarship scheme bankrolled by the state government, which has expended the sum of N14 billion between 2016 and 2022 on the training of 46,000 indigenous students as medical doctors, engineers and other professionals.

    The graduates were presented to Governor Tambuwal in Sokoto by the Permanent Secretary in the state scholarship board, Alhaji Bello Isah.

    Receiving Usman and his counterparts who graduated from universities in India, Sudan, Ukraine and Ghana on Friday, Governor Tambuwal who expressed his delight with their superlative academic feats, awarded the silver medalist a scholarship to pursue his masters degree and PhD.

    Equally, the Governor directed the state’s Head of Service to ensure that all the medical graduates were immediately employed after completing their mandatory youths service scheme under the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

    According to him, his administration’s huge investment on medical students is aimed at addressing the lack of adequate manpower in the state’s health sector.. “We know our challenges. We do not have adequate medical manpower.

    “This is the reason why we came up with this programme so that we can have enough manpower for our people, especially now that we are building more hospitals in the state,” he said

    The Permanent Secretary in the state scholarship board, Alhaji Bello Isah explained that 1,121 were trained on medicine, engineering and other paramedic courses, while 15,000 were graduates of sciences and social science related courses from different universities in Nigeria. Among them were 300 lawyers.

    He said an additional 30,000 are currently being sponsored to study various courses in Nigeria.

  • Tambuwal: SIFTAS, USAID Programs Buoyed SOSG Finance, Administration

    Tambuwal: SIFTAS, USAID Programs Buoyed SOSG Finance, Administration

    By Muhammad Ibrahim. Sokoto

    Sokoto state government has over the years enjoyed a veritable financial and governance lifelines from the World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Program-for-Results (SIFTAS) and the United States Agency for International Development Nigeria States Accountability Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) activity.

    This was contained in a statement from the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to governor Tambuwal Muhammad Bello.

    It further said this was the submission of the state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state on Tuesday at the first dialogue series organized by USAID and the State2State program held at the TRANSCORP Hilton hotel, Abuja.

    He spoke as a panelist and in his capacity as a Governor after delivering the speech of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), to whom he is the Vice Chairman.

    The panelists deliberated on reforms bordering on issues of auditing, procurement and budgeting; all of which they concurred, requires a lot of political will.

    According to Governor Tambuwal, his administration benefitted greatly and tremendously from the introduction of many reforms by the SIFTAS program and the State2State in terms of the finances of the state, its administration and general governance.

    But in retrospect, the Governor who observed that it has been work in progress, noted that“it has not been easy.”

    “Reforms are not only difficult at initiation level but much more on sustaining, where you run into difficulties and problems.

    “Reforms, generally, are difficult to receive in settings where you have entrenched precedents, traditions, cultures and ways of doing things,” the Governor added.

    He further added that “it is not easy to supplant trajectories of doing things with a complete new systems. So, SIFTAS has not been easy,” as yhe state met some resistance from people who were “probably benefiting from the old order, especially when it comes to fiscal reforms, accountability and transparency.”

    He noted also that: “It is difficult for people to accept that because some are benefiting from the rot in the system and they are so entrenched such that’s any attempt to change their ways of doing things you will meet some stiff resistance. But we are gradually getting there.”

    Gov. Tambuwal insisted that reforms are necessary and must be institutionalized. “The world is dynamic and governance is dynamic. Therefore, there is the need for review and reform of systems of governance,especially where you are talking about efforts aimed at improving good governance like we are doing in Nigeria.

    “So, this is very key and important in driving properly structured delivery of programs of government. Reforms are necessary and very much needed at all times,” he stressed.

  • SOSG Performs Better Than FG On SDG – Tambuwal

    SOSG Performs Better Than FG On SDG – Tambuwal

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    …… Pledges To Continue To Partner UNICEF

    Sokoto state government (SOSG) output in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is optimally superlative than that of the Federal Government.

    Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state who disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving the outgoing United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria representative, Mr Peter Hawkins and his team, nonetheless said his administration is committed to meeting all of its obligations with the UN agency on target.

    “We are doing more on the SDGs than the Federal Government. The Federal Government is slowing down seriously on the implementation of the SDGs. We have not, for long, received any support or counterpart funding from the Federal Government on the SDGs.

    “I believe for almost four years now, we have not received anything. But our SDG office has been functioning here in Sokoto. Year in, year out, we get some resources for them to continue with the implementation of those programs,” the Governor explained.

    He noted that barring challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, dwindling economy, shortfalls in revenue generation and the worrisome rate of inflation, Sokoto state government is still poised to come clean on all of its obligations with the UNICEF and other donor agencies.

    Governor Tambuwal was responding to issues of recent drawbacks in the settlement of counterpart funding by the state many issues regarding girl-child education, gender issues, healthcare, malnutrition and enrollment of out of school children.

    “We are committed to all of these. In the past we have performed our obligations fully and we shall continue to do that,” he assured.

    He expressed appreciation to the UNICEF for its support, especially on the government’s efforts towards repositioning the Almajiri system. “You have given us some technical support and we look forward to more in that direction so that these vulnerable out of school children can go back to school for a more structured learning process; both the spiritual and indeed what we call Western education here.

    “We are very committed to ensuring that we continue with our strides in taking these children back to school. They are our children and we are very concerned about their future. We are also very concerned about what they may become should they fail to get the appropriate attention of parents, government and society,” he added.

    He further thanked UNICEF on the Spotlight, a UN initiative with the EU geared towards “combatting violence against women and girls,” noting that progress is being made in that direction.

    Reiterating that his administration has developed policies on nutrition and social protection for out of school children, Governor Tambuwal said: “These two policies are awaiting the approval of the State Executive Council. By the time we so approve we’ll expedite action on implementation.

    He pledged to do more on the modest achievement recorded in immunization and said that the state government have for long identified the need to have more Human Resources. “We are in the process of recruiting 1000 more health workers.” he stated.

    He observed that although social investments are capital intensive, “states grappling to pay salary, partners cannot be able to pay counterpart fundings.”

    “If you can’t pay wages every other things will naturally slow down. But that doesn’t mean we are shying away from this. I’m just bringing all of these to the fore…,; I know you know that. But is for you to further understand and appreciate our very precarious situation,” he stressed.

    “On the MoU,” he said, “we are also committed. We have been speaking with Alhaji Aliko (Dangote) recently. We will come good on all of those terms God willing.”

    In his remarks, the outgoing UNICEF country representative, Mr Hawkins, while congratulating the Tambuwal administration for domesticating the Child Rights Act, made strong cases for social protection of children, especially those in the Almajiri system, the Spotlight initiative, upgrading of the primary healthcare system, SDGs and other issues like malnutrition.

    According to him, “80% of the issues for women and children are wrapped around healthcare.

    “Other issues are maternal care, immunization and nutrition. 56 % of children are considered stunted in Sokoto; and 17.9%, wasted in terms of severe malnutrition. These are easily fixable things, because N6000 per child is needed to be able to ensure that they get the right micronutrients,” he said.

    He added that the UNICEF is working to alleviate the cases of 200,000 people this year. This, he said can be doubled so as to prevent stunting from taking place. “At the moment, around 177,000 children are being referred, with 39,000 being referred for severe acute malnutrition. These are all preventable and collectively we can do that,” he noted.

    “At the beginning of the year, Your Excellency, you promised N284 million for this. We’re still waiting for that release; and, I am sure… We have released all of ours; and we’re working very closely with the Primary Healthcare to ensure that malnutrition response is adequate

    “The quicker you release yours, the better it will be to increase that. At the moment malnutrition and primary healthcare in Sokoto,” he observed.

    He, however, noticed that the administration has released N500 million so that UNICEF and other donor agencies can look at the policy framework of social protection for out of school children, pioneered polio eradication, giving attention to solutions and the challenges that children are facing as well as increasing of immunization rate from 7% to 11%.

    Critical issues regarding the Spotlight initiative and the MoU signed between UNICEF and the state government were privately reviewed after the plenary.

  • SOSG Distribute N4b Loans To Farmers

    SOSG Distribute N4b Loans To Farmers

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    Sokoto state government has started the distribution of N4 billion loan to rice, tomatoes and wheat farmers in the state.

    The statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Muhammad Bello further said Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stated this while launching the 2022 wet season fertilizer sales and distribution of other imputs to farmers in the state, held at Kasarawa, a suburb in the state capital.

    According to him, the state government has fulfilled all the requirements for securing the loan, aimed at supporting the farmers, from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Consequently, the government has since commenced the disbursement of the loan facility,
    as an intervention to boost the cultivation of rice, wheat and tomatoes in the state to farmers through Zenith Bank.

    Tambuwal added that under the initiative, water pumps, rice and wheat threshing and milling machines; and fertilizers, sold are being distributed to over 16000 farmers in order to boost yield and activate the commercial aspect of production.

    The governor, who noted that farming is the mainstay of 80% of our people, said farmers who derive their earnings and livelihoods also rely on the fertile land and availability of various crops.

    This, according to him, informs the decision of his administration to place premium on agriculture through the provision of support to the farmers, recalling that in last year’s planting season, the government subsidized fertilizers price while providing free improved seedlings and other inputs.

    He said his administration has also, in partnership with a private flour milling company, began a verification of wheat farmers, with a view to providing farming implements for them as a booster to their activities in the state.

    “This season our administration has procured 10,000 metric tons of fertilizers at a very high cost, caused by the current inflationary trends, which we shall however sell to farmers in the state at great subsidy of 13,000 naira per bag. This will be complimented by the provision of free improved seeds to cultivators of various crops.

    “Our administration has pursued the industrialization of the agricultural sector in the state, through the attraction of private sector investment. This is already yielding results as indicated by the establishment of the Dangote Rice Milling Factory at Kware and the OCP Morocco Fertilizer Plant at Kalambaina,” he added

    Tambuwal reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner with interested investors in the development of enterprise in our state, within the provisions of the laws of the land.

    The governor called farmers to exploit these palliatives and support and till the ground harder, for the production of sufficient food and commercial crops for the socio-economic advancement of our state.

    This is in spite of the prevalent state of insecurity, which especially ravages the rural areas, where 90% of the farmers are domiciled.

    “Our government is providing all the necessary support to the security agencies to contain banditry and other crimes. I appeal to all of us to continue to pray fervently for divine intervention against the menace.” Tambuwal added.

    In his remarks the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Professor Aminu Abubakar thanked the governor for giving adequate support and cooperation to the ministry in order to promote agricultural activities in the state.

    In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the district head of Kilgori, Sa in Kilgori, Alhaji Muhammad Jabbi urged those who were given the responsibility of distributing the palliatives provided by the government to be fair and just.

    The Sultan while thanking the Sokoto sate government on its intervention in the agricultural sector in the state, also urged farmers to utilize the products judiciously.

  • SOSG Spent N2.4b On Kaduna Liaison Office, Rural Electrification

    SOSG Spent N2.4b On Kaduna Liaison Office, Rural Electrification

    By Muhammad Ibrahim,Sokoto

    The sum of over N2.4 billion has been earmarked by the Sokoto state government for the purchase of houses that will serve as its liaison office in Kaduna and rural electrification of some rural areas of the state.

    This was contained in a release by Special Adviser on media and publicity to the governor, Muhammad Bello.

    A break down of the sum shows that the purchase of an estate, comprising of four houses that will serve as the state liaison office, located at Alkali road in Kaduna city, will gulp N2.1 billion.

    On the other hand the sum of N99.7 million will be spent on the reactivation of the electrification of Alkammu village in Wurno local government area of the state, while the remaining N192 million will be spent on the electrification of Bakaya- Romon Sarki- Romon Liman villages in Tambuwal local government area of the state.

    The state Commissioner of Information, Hon. Isah Bajini Galadanci who briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting presided over by Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, also said the council has approved the review of the law on revenue integration in the state.

  • Insecurity: SOSG Procures Surveillance Equipment For SSS

    Insecurity: SOSG Procures Surveillance Equipment For SSS

    By Ibrahim Goronyo,Sokoto

    Sokoto state government has assured the state command of the State Security Service (SSS) that it will soon take possession of a surveillance equipment to facilitate its operations in bandits prone areas and criminal hideouts.

    Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal made this known on Wednesday when he attended the presentation of long service awards to operatives of the SSS by the Director -General of the Service in the state at the command’s precinct in the state capital.

    The release by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the governor further said Tambuwal, who also appealed to the federal government “to improve on the welfare and wellbeing of our security personnel,” said: “SPZ machine is on its way and we will continue to reach out to agencies of the Federal Government and leadership of organizations and even those of individuals that can support the Services, so that we can continue to support you.

    “We don’t have to procure the equipment ourselves. The procurement can be done by you. We can process it and have all the equipment that you require to enhance and improve the Services.

    “We will not rest. We are not tired. There was hardly anytime we were approached by the Service or any security service in the state requesting for our help that we fall its hand. No. Your government, the government of Sokoto state, has been doing everything humanly possible to support this Services,” he added.

    Reiterating that government commitment to the welfare and work conditions of security operatives “is not too much” but “very high and heavy,” the Governor offered that “I think we cannot do anything without a safe and secure Nigeria.”

    “That being the case, those at the frontline should receive every attention that they deserve,” he further added.

    He also commended the top management of the SSS for the awards initiative, “which is clearly aimed at inspiring members of the Service to do more. Appreciating those who have done well will naturally elicit those in the Service to more and become even more committed.

    “What you do for us is very important and must not be taken for granted. So, on behalf of people of Sokoto state I commend members of this Service and other security services in the state for all of their efforts over the years, particularly in the last five years that have been very troubling and trying moments in the history of this state.

    “We have not had, since the advent of modern Sokoto state, a period that has witnessed lots of security challenges like the last five years. And, members of this Service of this Command have been deeply involved in doing their best; and giving their lives, making all the sacrifices for us to stem the tide, along with other security services in the state.

    “I commend the synergy between all the services in the state,” he stated.

    He gave the state Director of SSS, Alhaji Yahaya A. Hassan (fsi), kudos, saying “since he assumed office, he has been hands-on in constant touch with me and other heads of security agencies, providing intelligence, guiding them and sometimes getting directly involved in operations. It has been quite remarkable.

    “I congratulate the eight officers (awardees) for the recognition and awards. This should spur you to do more. You must not rest on your oars. Please, this should serve as more impetus for you to do more in the service of your country,” he emphasized.

    On his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mallam Aminu Muhammad Musa, who was among the awardees, Gov. Tambuwal observed that: “for the 21 years he has been in the Service, by June this year, he will be 11 years with me.

    “I am sure, for those of you who know me, you know that it is not easy to work with me. I know the complaints around. For someone to work with me, day-in, day-out, no Sunday, no Friday; and, wherever I am, and, for me not to seek for his redeployment as my CSO, from the turbulent times when I was Speaker of the House of Representatives till this moment, you shi know that that officer is an officer worth being called an officer.

    “I single out Mallam Aminu Musa for recognition and I congratulate you for this award for Service by the DG SSS. I pray that God Almighty shall continue to guide you and protect you,” he prayed.

    Acquiescing to the Command’s request for a befitting clinic, canteen and gym, Gov. Tambuwal said: “We can’t thank you enough for what you have been doing for Sokoto state. I appeal to members of your families to continue to show understanding,” he urged, noting that “no sacrifice is too great for one’s own country.

    He called on the operatives to dedicate more time to their families at the slightest opportunity they have and pray for God’s guidance in the rest of their lives.

  • SOSG Hands Over Constructed Police Station To Police Command

    SOSG Hands Over Constructed Police Station To Police Command

    By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

    Sokoto state government has officially handed over four newly constructed Abuja Type two Police stations to the state command of the Nigeria Police force.
    Muhammad Umar Sanyinna said also handed over were fifteen renovated Divisional police stations across the state.
    This is another effort being made by Tambuwal’s administration in supporting security agents towards checkmating insecurity in the state and the country as a whole.

    Recently, the Governor has approved the construction of twelve Abuja type two police stations as well as renovation of fifteen other Divisional police offices across the twenty three local government areas of the state.

    The work supervised by the Ministry for Local Governments and Community Development, has completed police stations located in Wamakko, Dange-shuni, Silame and Sabon-birni local governments.

    While handing over the projects at Wamakko, the overseer of the Ministry and state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manor Muhammad Dan Iya, represented by Director Planning Mahe Buhari Madunka reaffirmed the commitment of the state government in ensuring restoration of peace across the state.

    He called on the state command of the Nigeria Police Force to utilize the facilities being provided to them by the state government with a view to achieving the set objectives.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Kamaludeen Kola Akinlola who was represented by his Assistant in Charge of Administration Nasiru Shatima said the project would boost morale of the operational capability of the state Police Command, in its effort to fighting banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal vices in sokoto state.

    Highlights of the occasion were presentation of handing and taking over notes, rising of the Police flag as well as the inspection of the various sections of the newly constructed Wamakko Police station by the invited dignitaries.

  • SOSG Expends N1.6b On Various Projects

    SOSG Expends N1.6b On Various Projects

    By Muhammad Goronyo,Sokoto

    Sokoto state executive council has approved the sum of over N1.631 billion for the execution of various projects across the state this year.

    This was part of the outcome of a state executive council meeting held at Government House, Sokoto on Friday, as contained in a statement by his media aide, Bello Muhammad.

    A breakdown of the sum shows that the construction of a tarred road from Maruda-Tsaki- Lambo-Gantamo-Gajara will gulp over N475 millon while N221 million will be spent on the purchase of bulk of rural water scheme maintenance materials.

    The state Commissioner for Information, Hon. Isah Bajini Galadanchi, who briefed newsmen after the meeting, further gave the remaining breakdown as
    the approval of the sum of over N420 million for the rehabilitation of 120 number broken water scheme in the rural areas of the state.

    The Commissioner assisted by his Rural Development counterpart, Alhaji Usman Dan Madami Isa, added that the council has also approved the purchase of electrical materials for use in rural areas at the cost of N515 million.

  • SOSG Undergoes Total Rehabilitation Of Sanyinna Upgraded General Hospital

    SOSG Undergoes Total Rehabilitation Of Sanyinna Upgraded General Hospital

    By Ibrahim Goronyo, Sokoto

    Briefing the Commissioner of Health and newsmen shortly after the infection, the supervising engineer of the project from the Ministry of Works Architect Bello Usman explained that the work involved total renovation of the old PHC Sanyinna facility as well as the new ongoing construction work.

    These according to him include male and female wards, paediatric/maternity wards, staff quarters, access roads, water works, wall fence and security rooms among others.

    Commenting, Dr. Inname, while appreciating the quality and speed of the project said the facility would be finished before the stipulated period agreed upon and as well assured the contractor that he would feed the Governor about the project.

    The new construction he said are cemetery, kitchen and laundry.