Kano State as a centre of All-Comers is endowed with large population and vast arable land under the leadership of action governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau. One of his successful programmes is the social re-orientation campaign which was inaugurated on September 11, 2004. Popularly called ‘Adaidaita Sahu’ the governor justified the initiative as a plan to build around the ideals of uprightness, good manners, patriotism, respect for law and order and good manners, because they are the flywheel of the society in the sense that they keep the whole society within the bounds of order. The moral campaign is against social vices such as disorderliness, street begging, corruption, intolerance, laziness and abuse of power. The directorate has continued to pursue the campaign with all vigour.
Mallam shekarau has restored people’s confidence in governance by pursuing a progressive human development agenda. Earlier in his administration, he offset the huge pension liabilities owed amounting to over N4 billion on pension and gratuities since 2003. He has constantly settled the entitlements of pensioners timely and as when due. Workers whose ranks were downgraded by the previous administration on flimsy excuses were not only restored their ranks but paid their entitlements of 596. Apart from reviewing upward the state minimum wage from N5,700.00 to N6,500.00, the state remains among the few states in the federation that implement the 12.5% salary increase as enjoyed by the Federal Civil Servants.
In the area of workforce, he has employed over 10,000 personnel in the Health and Education sectors to fill the gaps created by retirement and rationalization. All the Local Government Councils in the state also carry out similar mass recruitments with promotion of senior civil servants to managerial positions.
It re-introduced the payment of 50% of basic salary as Ramadan and Eid-el-Kabir Ram bonuses to all categories of civil servants to boost their morale. The administration also helps widows who were left with children to take care of by assisting them either with money or by given them training in various handwork like Sewing, setting up small scale businesses such as groundnut oil making, trading etc.
Another area the governor has invested heavily is infrastructural development, for instance, the Tamburawa water plant project which he conceives shortly after assuming the mantle of leadership has been described as the most ambitious and biggest water project in sub Saharan Africa. It has an installed capacity of pumping 150 million litres per day. Costing a sum of N5.6 billion when completed, the project will solve the perennial water shortage in the metropolis. There are other water projects being executed including “Watari” Water Supply Scheme in Bagwai Local Government Area. The project is designed to complement the Tamburawa and Challawa water treatment plant.
The administration has engaged in road construction and repairs in all the nooks and crannies of the state, among which include Hausa/Ibo Road, Bello Road off Beirut Road, Link Road from Post office Road to Bello Road, Yola Road, Reconstruction of Festing/Burma Road, Dakata Kawaji Road, PILGRIMS camp Road, Zoo road, BUK Road, France Road, Club Road, State Road, Sabontiti Road, Karkasara Road etc.
His administration also revived the transport sector of the State that was in a sorry state for many years, known as Kano State Transport Authority (KSTA) with 22 buses. This is to ease transportation for the good citizens of the state.
The state is proud to have benefitted immensely from the contributions of this humble governor in various areas poverty reduction programmes, job creation, payments of pension, infrastructural development and reorientation of citizens for a better society.
Bashir Idirs Bichi
Writes from No 8 Hagagawa Quarters Bichi LG
