When former Speaker of Nigeria House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri
\nTambuwal, was sworn-in as Governor of Sokoto State on May 29, attention of
\nthe nation was shifted to the historical state, with genuine prospect of
\ncontinued change rising among citizens. This was expected largely
\nbecause of the pedigree Tambuwal built while representing the people of
\nKebbe-Tambuwal Federal Constituency in the National Assembly and his
\nsubsequent success as the Number Four citizen in the hierarchy of protocol
\nin the federation.
\nTambuwal had campaigned for the new position on the premise of continuing
\nwith most of the programmes of the previous administration of Aliyu
\nMagatakarda Wamakko in Sokoto state. This was much evident in his numerous
\nspeeches before, during and after the elections. The need for the
\ncontinued change mantra was necessary since both politicians not
\nonly belong to the same political party, but were from the same political
\nfamily whose cord was coupled together years back. But like all
\nindividuals, it was an established fact that even though continuity of
\npolicies is guaranteed, governance style is a product of individual
\npeculiarity since all persons are born different and unique.
\nRather than feel any difference in individual composition between the last
\nand present administration, foundation laid by Tambuwal in the last 100+
\ndays have heightened the already spiraling expectation from the public.
\nThe new approach to governance has galvanized the populace and attracted
\nattention not just nationally but among development partners and other
\ninterest groups. The people have been co-opted and their inputs sought in
\nefforts to improve their well-being and build on the foundation laid in
\npreceding years. A priority to him at the moment is institutional reform.
\nHe has repeatedly said that when the institutions are on sound footing,
\nthe journey will be smoother.
\nWhat we have been served by Tambuwal is a development module that
\nintegrates Sokoto historical peculiarities and huge potentials while
\nseeking to modernize all aspect of its life. Knowing fully-well that no
\nhuman endeavour will move successfully without quality education, Tambuwal
\nmade the revamping of the sector his number one priority. Within days of
\ntaking over the reigns of affairs , he received an unusual request from
\nSultan Sa ad Abubakar to introduce school transportation system for kids
\nin the state. His thinking was that with this kind of arrangement on
\nground, learning will be enhanced. Tambuwal promptly took up the
\nchallenge. Modalities for implementation are currently being developed
\npending budgetary approvals from the state legislature.
\nIn a bid to boost enrolment figures and halt historical anomaly,
\ngovernment announced a policy that will criminalise refusal to send
\nchildren to schools. The policy, seen as both radical and revolutionary,
\nhas drawn wide applause from social commentators and other stakeholders.
\nThis was followed immediately by recruitment of 500 teachers to address
\nshortfall in teaching personnel in public secondary schools.
\nAt a meeting with UNICEF, Tambuwal ordered immediate payment of
\ncounterpart funding for training of primary school teachers whose services
\nwill be employed upon completion of the trainings. The government has also
\nabolished the discrepancy in the payment of school fees between indigenes
\nand non indigenes in all public schools in Sokoto state. The entire
\noperational manual for the tsangaya system of education, which integrates
\nwestern and Islamic school system, has been redrawn. From the next
\nacademic session, designated teachers will lecture the students in their
\nareas of learning pending when better facilities are provided to create a
\ncondusive learning environment.
\nThen also, in Sokoto, emphasis is now on technical education to ensure all
\nstudents who graduated from O’levels are equipped with necessary skills
\nfor self reliance. Feasibility studies have been completed for the opening
\nof entrepreneurship development centres in the three senatorial zones of
\nthe state.
\nIn the areas of employment and youth empowerment, few weeks back,
\ngovernment started registration of 25,000 youths expected to benefit from
\na skills acquisition scheme over a two year period. In the coming weeks,
\ngovernment will unveil a special training scheme for artisans and
\nsemi-skilled professionals to enhance output and marketing potential for
\ntheir products. Sokoto government has also signed an MoU with the Usmanu
\nDanfodio University for the training of nurses and birth attendants whose
\nservices will be deployed in all parts of the state.\u00a0 To appreciate Sokoto
\nindigenes studying health related courses, government has offered
\nautomatic employment for them upon successful completion of their studies.
\nMuch has happened in the health sector in Sokoto in the last 100 days.
\nAfter paying unscheduled late-night visits to public hospitals to assess
\nthings for himself, Tambuwal announced increnment in allowances paid to
\nitenerant health care workers who frequent rural areas daily to render
\nservices to those in need. To enhance use of life-saving drugs, government
\nbegan distribution of free drugs to pregnant women and those who gave
\nbirth in public hospitals or private health care centre under government
\nsupervision in the rural areas.
\nConsultations have also started on efforts to introduce health insurance
\nscheme in Sokoto State. The scheme is part of measures to decentralise the
\nNational Health Insurance Scheme for optimum performance. Governor
\nTambuwal said seeking the views of religious scholars and traditional
\nrulers is essential for its future success. Due to space constraint , let
\nme say that social welfare schemes met by Tambuwal have been enhanced,
\nwith the ultimate objectives to ensure all citizens feel the impact of
\ngovernment at all levels.
\nIn agriculture, Tambuwal started off by reclaiming a huge irrigation land
\nabandoned since colonial times. With it on board, the new drive to enhace
\nrice farming received a boost. Government has also opened discussion with
\nthe Central Bank of Nigeria to open new credit line in addition to
\nexisting facilities so as to modernise the farming, packaging, storage and
\nexport of rice from Sokoto. Tambuwal has already appealed to the federal
\ngovernment to stop granting waiver to rice exporters in order to assist
\nlocal producers.
\nIn housing, Tambuwal last week laid the foundation stone for a 250-housing
\nunit Caliphate Workers estate to be sited at Kasarawa, along airport road
\nin Sokoto. Three other estates, initiated by the last administration, will
\nbe commissioned early next year with a combined capacity of 1300 housing
\nunits. At the last Sokoto Bussiness Forum, Aso Loans and Savings Ltd
\nannounced that it will construct 4000 units of houses over four year
\nperiod in Sokoto.
\nOn security, apart from sustaining cooperation with various security
\nagencies serving\u00a0 in the state, Tambuwal ordered all hotels in Sokoto to,
\nfrom next year, ensure that all guests present valid ID cards as a
\ncondition for lodging.
\nAn innovative approach to environmental sanitation was unveiled where
\ngovernment gave a monetary incentive to the cleanest neighbourhood in
\nSokoto. The policy has attracted interest from all parts of the state. On
\ndays designated for sanitation, huge crowd flock to streets with brooms
\nand shovels in bid to win Tambuwal’s N2.3m Naira on offer.
\nOn the important matter of bills and legislations, to demonstrate
\ngovernment’s commitment to have legal framework and institutionalise
\nreforms, work on nine bills have been completed. They are the Sokoto
\nCommodity Board bill, Sokoto Criminal Justice Law Reform bill, Anti-Child
\nPonography and Cyber Crimes bill, State Mortgage bill, Sokoto Education
\nReform bill, Sokoto Geographic Information Systems bill, Sokoto Transport
\nManagement Agency bill, Sokoto Primary Healthcare Development bill and
\nSokoto Environmental Protection Agency bill.
\n*Imam is the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Governor Tambuwal<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When former Speaker of Nigeria House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was sworn-in as Governor of Sokoto State on May 29, attention of the nation was shifted to the historical…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n