GOV. LAWAL RECEIVES FUGUS GOVERNING COUNCIL, ASSURES SUPPORT
Governor Dauda Lawal has reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing all necessary support to Federal University Gusau.
The pro-chancellor of the Federal University Gusau, Rt. Hon. Engineer Aminu Sani Isa led the governing council on a courtesy visit to Governor Dauda Lawal in his office at the government house on Tuesday.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the governing council commended the state government for its unending support of the university.
The statement added that while responding to the pro-chancellor, Governor Dauda Lawal pledged to always assist the university because of its role in human development.
The governor emphasized that the state government would continue collaborating with the university for development. “I would like to express my gratitude to the Federal University Gusau governing council for this visit. Such gatherings provide an opportunity to reflect and plan ways to enhance our educational sector for the benefit of our people.
“I am excited to hear that your institution will start offering MBBS. We were very strategic in upgrading our specialist hospitals to teaching hospitals, so a teaching hospital will be available when you begin.
“As you know, we are upgrading Yeriman Bakura Teaching Hospital into a fully equipped teaching hospital with state-of-the-art medical equipment.
“We are negotiating to acquire land nearby to build hostels for students’ comfort.
“Regarding land compensation, we have been actively addressing this issue. The special adviser for infrastructure will coordinate with the university management to find a solution.
“For some projects initiated by previous governments, I will send a team to assess their status and determine how we can complete them.
“We will explore ways to make a financial commitment to support you. In the long run, our community will benefit because the school is in Zamfara. We must do everything we can to provide assistance in all possible ways.”
Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University Gusau, Rt. Hon. Aminu Sani Isah commended Governor Dauda Lawal for the numerous projects he initiated for the university even before becoming Zamfara State’s governor.
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor November 20, 2024
GOV. LAWAL FLAGS OFF CONSTRUCTION OF GUSAU ULTRA-MODERN MOTOR PARK, VOWS TO CREATE NUMEROUS JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Governor Dauda Lawal has restated his administration’s commitment to creating job opportunities for people whose livelihoods are closely tied to motor park activities.
On Monday, the governor flagged off the construction of Central Ultra-Modern Motor Park on Sokoto-Zaria Road in Gusau, the state capital.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the project awarded to Fieldmark Construction LTD will include ample parking spaces, rest areas for drivers, enhanced security installations, and a well-organized ticketing system to streamline operations.
During his remarks at the commissioning, Governor Dauda Lawal emphasized that the project is a vital part of his administration’s commitment to improving urban infrastructure in Gusau.
He said: “This initiative will enhance security, boost revenue generation, and enable our city to compete favourably with others across the country.
“This state-of-the-art motor park will feature modern facilities designed to accommodate commuters, passengers, and commercial motorists in a safe, efficient, and organized manner.
“Other essential components of this project include designated departure lines, a police outpost, a clinic, a fire brigade station, a mosque, an administrative block, a union office, public conveniences, a park hotel, a loading bay, a shopping mall, a travellers’ terminal, a waste disposal unit, a warehouse, a workshop, and a car wash area.
“During the construction phase, the project will employ both skilled and unskilled labourers, and once operational, the park will become a hub for commercial activities, which will benefit entrepreneurs, service providers, and countless others.
The Governor reaffirmed his conviction that providing critical infrastructure, such as the roads his administration began constructing shortly after assuming office—some of which were inaugurated during the first anniversary—is one of the most effective ways to stimulate business activities and build prosperity.
“Beyond its economic impact, this initiative also beautifies our state capital by our broader vision of creating a modern, vibrant, and liveable environment for our people.
“With these remarks, I am pleased to officially flag off the construction of the new Gusau Central Motor Park. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala bless this endeavour and make it a source of immense prosperity and development for the people of Zamfara State.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor November 18, 2024
GOV. LAWAL SWEARS IN 14 NEWLY ELECTED LG CHAIRMEN, PREACHES EQUITY AND FAIRNESS IN DISTRIBUTION OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Governor Dauda Lawal has urged the newly elected Zamfara local government chairmen to prioritize the welfare of their people and ensure equity and fairness in the distribution of development projects.
The Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) declared candidates of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winners of all the local councils’ chairmanship and councillorship elections held across the 14 LGA in the State on Saturday.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the elected chairmen were sworn in on Sunday by the Zamfara State Chief Judge, Justice Kulu Aliyu, at the old council chambers of the government house in Gusau.
The statement added that during the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Lawal commended the leadership of the Zamfara State Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) for organizing free, fair, and credible elections.
The governor stressed that the ultimate goal of the local government system in Nigeria is to bring the government closer to the people at the grassroots. “This is especially crucial at this time, as local government councils, as the third tier of government, are vital in complementing the initiatives of the present administration to rescue the state from socio-economic issues and the security challenges affecting all parts of the state.
“Therefore, there is a need for synergy between the State and Local Government Councils to accelerate development at the grassroots levels, which, in turn, will place the entire State on the trajectory of growth and prosperity.
“I urge you to see your election as a call to service by prioritizing the welfare of your people and ensuring equity and fairness in the distribution of development projects. This should be achieved by leveraging various social investment programs and other laudable initiatives introduced by the present administration to create employment opportunities for our teeming youths, make them productive, and curb the incessant crimes bedevilling the state. This can only be achieved when you embrace transparency, accountability, and prudence in managing public resources.
“You must collaborate with the State Government, especially in light of the provisions of the 1999 constitution (as amended). The State Government will continue to collaborate with your councils to achieve our shared goals and build synergy for the development of our dear state.”
Governor Lawal further urged the elected chairmen to engage with their communities actively. “You should establish effective channels of communication, which are essential in understanding the needs of the people you serve. “Your leadership should embody compassion and inclusivity by ensuring that no segment of society is left behind. Particular attention should be given to the most vulnerable – women, children, people with special needs, and older people.
“Let me emphasize that you should not operate as separate entities from the State Government. You are an integral part of the machinery of governance. Therefore, you are expected to align your policies and programs with the six (6) priority areas of the present administration: Security, Education, Agriculture and food security, Economic growth and development, Health sector, and Infrastructural development.
“In this regard, it is imperative that you foster a culture of transparency and accountability in all your dealings. Ensure that your financial records are meticulously kept and periodically audited. This will enhance the credibility of your administrations and build the people’s confidence in your leadership.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor November 17, 2024
Faced with an unprecedented and embarrassing decay in the health sector in Zamfara State, Governor Dauda Lawal declared a state of emergency on the sector immediately after he took over as the state chief executive.
To change the ugly scenario, Governor Lawal quickly started renovating, modernising, upgrading, equipping, and building new general hospitals across the state.
One year on, these hitherto decrepit, understaffed and life-threatening general hospitals now wear a new look, with state-of-the-art facilities, trained and well-remunerated physicians and health workers for effective, safe, people-centred, timely, equitable, and integrated service delivery to the people.
CSR: KEYSTONE BANK RENOVATES SCHOOLS IN ZAMFARA, SAYS GOV. LAWAL’S FEATS IN 17 MONTHS SURPASS OVER 20 YEARS OF PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS
Keystone Bank Limited has commended Governor Lawal’s giant strides in human capital development in Zamfara State.
The bank’s Managing Director, Hassan Imam, led top management officials on a courtesy visit to the governor on Saturday at the Government House in Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that the bank is renovating Sarkin Kudu Primary School and Sambo Secondary School, all in the state capital, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
While addressing the bank’s management, Governor Lawal praised Keystone’s efforts and committed to making Zamfara State a favorable environment for all businesses.
“It is well known that we inherited a highly dysfunctional system in Zamfara State. However, this does not serve as an excuse for failing to perform. Instead, we are focused on finding the best ways to advance the state, and that is precisely what we are doing.
“Education is essential to everything we do in life today. It forms the backbone of a better society. In my administration, education is the second priority after security.
“I want to express my gratitude for this gesture. As I mentioned, this intervention will go down in history as a testament to your bank’s role in our success story.
“Insha’Allah, Zamfara will become an even greater state. I am committed to ensuring that we compete with other states in Nigeria in every aspect.
“I look forward to commissioning these schools shortly upon their completion. Thank you very much for this intervention.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Keystone Bank, Hassan Imam, disclosed that the management deliberated on the intervention area before deciding to focus on the complete renovation and overhaul of schools as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
“What you have achieved in just 17 months has surpassed what others have accomplished in over 20 years. You have excelled in education, health, and infrastructure. I don’t have enough time to list everything you have done for Zamfara State, but anyone visiting will witness the multi-billion-dollar construction of the metropolitan road.
“We are here to support you because we recognize the hard work you’re putting in. After much discussion, we decided to focus on education and chose two primary and secondary schools. We are conducting a complete renovation and overhaul of Sarkin Kudu Primary School and Sambo Secondary School, located in the state capital.
“As we speak, the contractors are already on site, and the work has commenced,” he said.
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor November 09, 2024
GOVERNOR DAUDA LAWAL BANS ALL NON-STATUTORY DEDUCTIONS FROM ZAMFARA WORKER’S SALARIES
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has ordered the immediate suspension of all non-statutory deductions, notably cooperative associations & commodity vendors deductions.
Zamfara state employees have raised multiple complaints regarding deductions made through the State Payroll system.
In a statement issued in Gusau, the spokesperson for the governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the directive aimed at banning all non-statutory deductions made through the Zamfara State Government payroll.
The statement reads in part: “In his resolve to sanitize the Zamfara State Payroll system for more efficient management of state civil servants’ remuneration currently inundated with a lot of unauthorized and illegal deductions, Governor Dauda Lawal has ordered an immediate halt to all Non Statutory deductions from workers’ salaries.
“The decision was made due to numerous complaints about deductions from workers’ salaries, some of which were used to facilitate an illegal surcharge of the workers in the name of cooperatives & commodity loan repayments.
“Governor Lawal has instructed the Commissioner of Finance to stop all of such deductions from workers’ salaries and to communicate the same information to all cooperative societies & other Commodity Vendors.
“For more clarity, the only allowed statutory deductions comprise the following: PAYE; Union dues; NHF; ZAMCHEMA; Water rate; FMB (Rent to Own); FMB (Home Renovation); Housing Corp Loan.
“The present administration in Zamfara state is committed to implementing measures that support the welfare and development of the civil servants. This includes enhancing working conditions, providing necessary resources, and creating a conducive environment to ensure a highly competent, motivated, and productive workforce.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor November 06, 2024
BudgIT 2024 RANKING: ZAMFARA EMERGES HIGHEST IN IGR GROWTH IN NIGERIA
Zamfara State has been ranked as Nigeria’s leading Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) state performance on Index A.
BudgIT’s State of States Report for 2024, launched last week Tuesday, is an annual publication evaluating each state’s long-term fiscal performance and sustainability.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the significant improvement in the growth of the Zamfara Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by 240.44% is linked to the state’s decision to not rely only on Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
The statement added that the BudgIT report was obtained through its annual analysis, assessment, and rankings of the fiscal performance of all 36 states, from the most to the least sustainable.
The BudgIT report explained the significant growth in Zamfara State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), highlighting that from its bottom position of 36th in 2023, Zamfara rose to 26th in 2024.
“This significant feat can be attributed to the state reversing the decline of 49.75% observed in its 2022 IGR, increasing it by 240.22% from N6.51bn in 2022 to N22.16bn in 2023.
“There were significant increases in components of Zamfara’s IGR year-on-year: its Income Tax grew by 142.26% from N5.03bn in 2022 to N12.18bn, licenses rose by 5921.22% from N22.78 million in 2022 to N1.37 billion in 2023, Fees grew by 3610.38% from N82.44 million in 2022 to N3.06 billion in 2023.
“Additionally, fines rose by 1924.52% from N24.15 million in 2022 to N491.32 million in 2023, Sales grew by 32.49% from N772.06 million in 2022 to N1.02 billion in 2023, Earnings grew by 542.59% from N87.53 million in 2022 to N562.48 million in 2023, and its earnings from other taxes grew by 519.71% from N412.03 million in 2022 to N2.55 billion in 2023.
“Furthermore, the state generated revenue from rent on government buildings, rent on lands and others, investment income, and reimbursement, where it recorded no revenue in the previous year. Zamfara can demonstrate a commitment to improving its financial sustainability by exploring its natural resources in collaboration with the federal government to diversify its revenue base.
“The state’s total revenue increased by 65.35% to N144.95bn in 2023 from N87.68bn earned the previous year. Regarding recurrent revenue structure, the state’s susceptibility to external fiscal shocks appeared to have reduced from the previous year as its FAAC dependence decreased from 90.52% in 2022 to 74.66% in 2023, despite the FAAC allocation rising by 4.93% from N62.21bn to N65.28bn. Lastly, the IGR to recurrent revenue ratio for 2023 was 22.16% higher than 9.48% in 2022.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor November 03, 2024
ZAMFARA STUDENTS: UNLIKE INDIA AND SUDAN, OUR ENCOUNTER WITH CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
On May 29, 2023, Governor Dauda Lawal took over a government that had failed to pay examination bodies for three years, preventing Zamfara secondary school students from taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
Among the several problems inherited by our government is the lingering issue of nonpayment of scholarship fees for Zamfara state indigenes sent to study in different educational programs in Cyprus and India.
For our students in India and Sudan, the Zamfara State government collaborated smoothly with the institutions. Zamfara indigenes studying in India have completed their studies and are preparing to return home.
Due to the war in Sudan, 66 Zamfara indigenes were evacuated. However, 14 of the 66 nursing students could not take their final exams. In partnership with Sudanese University, the state government organized exams for the 14 students in Nigeria, which is not one of the university’s designated exam centres. The government covered flight, accommodation, and meal expenses for three examiners from Sudan. All 14 students completed their final exams, while 52 others received full scholarships to continue their studies at universities in Nigeria.
We laid the foundation by referencing India and Sudan, where Zamfara scholarship students faced various problems that were addressed with the state government’s intervention. The question remains: Why is Cyprus International University different?
Despite serious problems uncovered regarding the faulty foundation created when students were sent to Cyprus and other countries, the state government has been pursuing all official channels to resolve the issue, but the school management is blocking the efforts.
On November 12, 2023, the state government paid the university N84.7 million. Two days later, on November 14, 2023, another N30.9 million was transferred to the school.
Cyprus International University has consistently rejected the state government’s request to send a delegation to discuss the ongoing issues concerning our scholarship students. As a result, the state government had to reach out to the Nigerian Foreign Mission in Turkey for assistance.
In May 2024, following significant pressure from the Nigerian Foreign Mission in Turkey, the school management informed the state government that they were prepared to receive a delegation at the university in Cyprus, contingent upon the transfer of funds to demonstrate commitment. Consequently, on June 4, 2024, the state government transferred N100 million as requested by the university.
In light of this, Governor Dauda Lawal formed a three-member delegation for a trip to Cyprus International University. The delegation includes Mallam Wadatau Madawaki, the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology; Bello Mohammed Auta, the Commissioner of Finance; and Barau Muazu, the Special Adviser to the Executive Governor on Finance and Economic Matters.
The delegation was saddled with the responsibility to establish the actual amount Zamfara State owes the university in respect of the 93 Students sent on scholarship since 2019; to screen all the Zamfara State students in the university in person to ascertain their actual number; to verify the students’ various and individual courses with the view to evaluating performance and confirm the year of graduation of each student.
Other responsibilities include finding out and evaluating the conditions under which studies are being carried out, the situation of the hostels, feeding and other learning tools and infrastructure provided, and devising mutually agreed-upon terms and conditions through which the established outstanding and future liabilities would be settled.
Before leaving Nigeria, the delegation reached out to the Nigerian Foreign Mission in Turkey, a reason why two officials of the Embassy joined the delegation to Cyprus on August 14, 2024, to complete the above assignment. On August 15, they met the students and the university’s management, setting the ball rolling.
The first meeting with the management was with Professor Majid, from whom the delegation requested for any executed MOU/Agreement between Cyprus International University and Zamfara State Government, a total outstanding debt owed by each student from inception to date, indicating the amount per semester, payments received and outstanding balance; students’ cumulative academic transcript per semester indicating progress with anticipated graduation date and list of students who made personal payments for registration to avoid semester freezing, the amount paid per student and the total amount.
In a meeting with the University Rector/Vice Chancellor, Professor Habil Nadiri, the delegation presented numerous issues faced by the students in the University, which included non-registration of students to allow them to attend lectures and access school facilities to carry out their studies conveniently; ejection of the entire students (except the ten females) who were patching in a provided boys hostel by the school; depriving all the students (including the ten females) food from the school canteen since the date they were ejected from hostel.
Other issues presented to the school management include the school authority tagging Zamfara state students “under a deportation order,” which was frowned upon as a harsh decision since they had not committed any criminal offence against the university or the country, and the deportation of one of the students without prior notification to either the Zamfara State Government or the Nigerian Embassy in Ankara. We also frowned at this action as unwarranted for a non-criminal reason.
The Zamfara delegation uncovered a lack of consistency on the part of Cyprus International University. The office of the General Secretary provided the government with EUR 947,544.71 as the total outstanding sum Zamfara State owes the university.
The office of the Senior Advisor to the Board of Trustees and Head of the Promotion & International Affairs division provided the total debt the state owes as EUR 650,730.24.
The International Affairs Office confirmed that the General Secretary’s office did not update its system with many payments and waivers. We reviewed the total provided by the international affairs office and discovered many anomalies that need to be corrected, further reducing the total indebtedness.
Since the delegation returned, the Zamfara State Government has been awaiting communication from Cyprus International University regarding the actual payment needed to end the quagmire.
The Nigerian Foreign Mission in Ankara has been actively working to encourage the Cyprus Diplomatic Mission to press Cyprus International University for the necessary official documents. We are hopeful that this diplomatic intervention will help to compel the university to do the right thing without any further complications.
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor November 02, 2024
