The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has signed the 2020 budget of N259.25 into law, with a promise to consolidate on ongoing projects across the state.
The State deputy governor, Hadiza Balarabe had on October the 15, submitted the draft budget estimate of N257.9 billion to the House of Assembly for approval.
However, after weeks of deliberation, the lawmakers increased the budget proposal to N259.25 billion.
While signing the Appropriation Bill into law at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna, the governor noted that N184.1 billion out of the entire budget is for capital expenditure while the sum of N75,145,220,027.38 is allocated to recurrent expenditure.
According to the governor, the largest chunk of N75.bn of the budget will be spent on the social sector, comprising education, health and social development, in line with his administration’s governance agenda of building human capital and promoting equal opportunity.
Meanwhile, the governor also swore in three new commissioners including two women for the ministries of health, agriculture and fiscal commission, as well as eight permanent secretaries.
He charged them to work harder and contribute their quota in the development of Kaduna State.
The governor also reminded them that they were appointed based on their competency and integrity and must, therefore, live up to expectations.
A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Photo: Twitter
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says the Federal High Court, Abuja had cleared him of allegations of misappropriation of the sum of N32 billion from the sale of some Federal Government houses when he was the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said this in reaction to reports which according to him, had misrepresented Justice Binta Nyako’s reaffirmation of an earlier judgement, by portraying him as preventing the EFCC from perform its duties.
Speaking through his counsel, Abduhakeem Mustapha (SAN) in a statement, El-Rufai noted that he had approached the court in 2009 to clear his name when he was being ‘smeared’ by the anti-graft agency.
“At no point did Nasir El-Rufai seek to stop the EFCC from performing its statutory functions. Rather, he only went to court in 2009 to defend his reputation” the statement read in part.
According to Mustapha, “the EFCC sustained a media campaign that N32bn was missing, compelling El-Rufai to approach the court for a declaratory judgment which had since been given in his favour.”
He further explained that it was the declaratory judgement that Justice Nyako reaffirmed in her ruling, reiterating that the declaratory orders in favour of the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), subsist.
According to him, the clarification became necessary because of “the false and abjectly misleading reportage of the judgment of the Hon. Justice Binta Murtala Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered on 29th November 2019”.
The statement recalled that as Minister of FCT, El-Rufai allocated plots in Abuja to more than 27,000 Nigerians and presided over a transparent process that sold government houses and earned the Federal Government a whopping N32bn.
“No decent man would permit slurs on such a stellar record. Therefore, Malam Nasir El-Rufai approached the court and the court agreed with him that there is no missing N32bn proceeds of sale of government houses,” Mustapha argued further.
“The court also held that the proceeds of the sales of the government houses were properly accounted for and audited”.
A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Photo: Twitter
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has described as ‘fabricated’ the reports that he has stepped down as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council of Kogi state, saying that he will continue to campaign to persuade re-election of Yahaya Bello as governor of the state for a second term.
Kogi State will head to the polls on Saturday, November 16, 2019, to vote for a governor who will govern them for the next four years.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, El Rufai reminded the purveyors of the rumour, that it is well-known that he gives his best to all his assignments, and the Kogi election will not be different.
‘’The people of Kogi State will make their free choice at the ballot. Therefore, every political actor has a duty to ensure that the voters act on the basis of accurate information, not lies and fake news.
“I will be on the ground in Kogi this week as the APC works for another democratic mandate.”
The statement added that “APC will continue to campaign to persuade the people of Kogi State to renew the mandate they gave our party four years ago. That is the focus of the Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the members of the APC Campaign Council.”
A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Photo: Twitter
The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna State has upheld the election of Mr Nasir El-Rufai as the duly elected governor of the state.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by a three-man panel of judges led by Justice Olumuyiwa Aburu on Thursday, the appellate court upheld the judgement of the Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed Governor El-Rufai of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
The Tribunal had dismissed the petition of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Isah Ashiru, in the March 9 poll for lacking in merit.
The PDP and its candidate had filed a petition before the Tribunal and asked it to declare Ashiru as the winner of the election, having scored the highest number of votes cast.
But the Tribunal ruled that the petitioner was unable to provide substantial evidence to prove his allegations.
It also noted that the petitioner did not present any factual evidence to prove the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrong in returning El-Rufai as duly elected.
The Tribunal had, however, dismissed the petitioner’s suit challenging the governorship election for lacking in merit.
Unhappy with the judgment, the PDP and its candidate filed a petition at the appellate court, asking it to dismiss the lower court’s judgment and declare them the rightful winner of the election.
The appeal court, after looking into the prayers sought by the appellants, dismissed the petition for lacking in merit and also affirmed El-Rufai as the duly elected governor of the state.
The upper court aligned itself with the Tribunal’s judgment which held that the PDP candidate was unable to prove his allegations of massive rigging and other electoral irregularities against the governor.
In their reactions, the Counsel to PDP, Eli Mutum, said they would study the judgement to decide the next action to take while Governor El-Rufai’s counsel, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, described the judgement as a victory for democracy.
A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Photo: Twitter
The Kaduna State government has vowed to facilitate the establishment of a military formation in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
This followed the rising cases of kidnappings, rural banditry and other related crimes at Rigasa and Nariya communities in Igabi.
In a bid to tackle such prevailing security challenges, Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced plans by the state government to engage in activities that would lead to the establishment of a military formation in the area.
The governor made the promise when he visited the communities to commiserate with them over the recent abduction of several residents by suspected kidnappers who operate from a nearby forest.
He gave assurance that his administration would continue to empower security agencies in order to make the entire state safer for the citizens.
Governor El-Rufai, who visited the communities in company with some government officials, urged the residents to live in peace with one another.
He insisted that the government would step up efforts to improve security in the area, while the Chairman of Igabi LGA called on the residents to expose all criminal activities in their domains.
Nariya, a border community between Kaduna and Niger States, has been notorious over the years for various crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, rural banditry, and cattle rustling among others.
While Rigasa has witnessed the same incidents, over 30 people were said to have been kidnapped from their homes by bandits who camp in a nearby forest.
One of the residents, Aliyu Yushau, also said the bandits occasionally kidnap travellers along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway and hold them hostage inside their camp.
According to him, many residents have also fled from their homes to neighbouring villages while the majority of the roads in the community are inaccessible, making rescue efforts difficult during emergencies.
The victim who accused Bala Umar of harassing her protests at the Kaduna State University (KASU) campus.
The management of Kaduna State University (KASU) has suspended one of its lecturers, Mr Bala Umar, for allegedly soliciting sex for grade from a female student.
The university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullahi Ashafa, disclosed this to Channels Television on Thursday.
Professor Ashafa explained that the suspension of the lecturer was due to a one-man protest at the institution by a female graduate of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), who accused Uman of demanding sex from her in 2013.
The lady, whose name was not given, alleged that the lecturer, who was sacked by the management of ABU for sexual misconduct and later employed by KASU, was not fit to be a lecturer in any institution.
The deputy vice-chancellor who chaired the committee set up to investigate the allegation earlier in October 2019 noted that Umar, having been sacked from ABU, ought not to have been re-employed by KASU due to the controversy surrounding his dismissal.
He stressed that the university has zero-tolerance for such misconduct by its members of staff.
Professor Ashafa said they would proceed with investigations into the allegations levelled against the embattled lecturer in order to ensure that justice was done.
He also disclosed that two committees were set up – one to investigate Umar’s case and the other was for general investigation on events on campus relating to both academic and non-academic employees of the institution with a view to flushing out bad eggs from the university.
In his reaction, Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned the purported action of the embattled lecturer to demand sex for marks.
In a tweet from his verified Twitter handle, the governor noted that the suspension of Umar by KASU was the first step.
He added that the suspended lecturer and 15 others sacked by ABU for alleged sexual harassment would be fully investigated and prosecuted.
A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Photo: Twitter.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has presented a budget proposal of N257.9 billion for the 2020 fiscal year.
The state deputy governor, Hadiza Balarabe, submitted the appropriation bill on behalf of the governor to members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly on Tuesday in the state capital.
The document tagged ‘Budget of Progressive Renewal’, has N190.04 billion capital expenditure and N68.87 billion recurrent spending.
According to the deputy governor, the appropriation bill is in the ratio of 73.7 per cent to 26.3 per cent representing capital and recurrent spending respectively.
She explained that this was in line with the present administration’s agenda of spending more on serving the people than in running the government.
Balarabe informed the lawmakers that the priority of the budget was to complete all 2019 projects and pay all contractors who have worked for the state government.
She added that most of the spending would be in the economic and social sectors, with N140 billion allocated to education, health, and infrastructure.
In the budget estimate, education got the highest allocation of N64.64 billion (25.07%), while health has N39.61 billion (15.36%) and infrastructure got N66.34 billion (25.72%).
The deputy governor disclosed that the government has declared 12 years of free and compulsory primary and secondary education for all children in Kaduna, as part of efforts to eradicate illiteracy and poverty in the state.
She announced that the government would complete the renovation of more primary schools and extend the building of more classrooms, including multi-storey blocks to address congestion and land availability constraints in urban centres.
Balarabe informed the lawmakers that the state government has recorded a significant achievement in the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of state roads, as well as making significant investments in health and education infrastructure, equipment, and staffing.
In his remark, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Aminu Shagali, commended Governor El-Rufai for the timely presentation of the budget.
He gave assurance that the House would continue to give its support towards ensuring progress, peace, and development of the state.
Since the inception of the present administration in 2015, the El-Rufai administration has sustained a tradition of presenting the yearly budget in a good time, usually in October.
The presentation of the 2020 budget proposal is quite different because it is the first time a state deputy governor is saddled with the onerous responsibility of presenting a budget to the Assembly in the country.
Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Monday enrolled his six-year-old son into a public primary school.
The governor’s son, Abubakar Al-Sadiq El-Rufai was enrolled by his father into primary one in Capital School Malali, Kaduna.
After the registration process was completed at the school principal’s office, El-Rufai told journalists that the decision is in fulfillment of his campaign promise to improve the quality of public education in Kaduna State.
“The move is part of reforms to revamp public schools in the state to make them more competitive.
“We are determined to fix public education and raise their standards so that private education will become only a luxury.
“I went to a public school like this, in fact, the school I went to was not even as good as this but here I am because of the quality of the teaching I got.
“It is our intention in Kaduna State government to ensure that all our public schools offer quality education and we are encouraging all our senior public servants to have their children in public schools,” El-Rufai said.
Accompanied by his wife, Ummi, El-Rufai noted that it is only when political leaders send their children to public schools that they will be forced to pay attention to the quality of public education in the country.
He, however, stresses that the law does not allow him to force anyone to embrace the policy.
The governor’s wife, Ummi expressed mixed feelings about taking her child to a public school.
She also agreed that her husband’s action is the only way leaders can live by example and ensure that public institutions are given proper attention.
The governor’s son, on his part, expressed happiness to assist his father to fulfill his campaign promise.
El-Rufa’i had in a state broadcast in December 2017, promised to enroll his child in a public school when he turns six years.
The first phase of the water project was commissioned on May 27, 2017, by the former national Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
The 150 million litres per day Zaria Water Treatment Plant which was solely financed by the Kaduna State Government is expected to end decades of water scarcity in Zaria and environs.
Before the commissioning proper, the President paid a visit to the Emir of Zazzau at his palace.
There Governor El-Rufai explained to the Emir the essence of the President’s visit.
Balaraba Aliyu-Inuwa, the Commissioner of Public Works & Infrastructure, has welcomed President Buhari and other guests to the event pic.twitter.com/ymGhp7eso9
Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his address at the commissioning exercise, highlighted the importance of the projected and thanked all who were involved in making it become a reality.
It is an honour to welcome you all to the ancient city of Zaria for this historic commissioning of Phase II of the Zaria Water Supply Expansion Project. It is another milestone in reversing the shortage of water in Zaria and ending the pain endured by the residents of the city.
Mr. President, the people of Zaria are evidently delighted to see you. They have consistently provided you some of the biggest votes in your political area. It is only fitting that you are with them today to celebrate the restoration of public water supplies to Zaria…
…Anyone younger than 30 years who resides in Zaria has probably never seen water flow from the public grid. Thanks to the completion of the new water treatment plant in 2017 & the construction of transmission & distribution infrastructure, what was once a dream is now reality.
Zaria Water Project aims to improve access to sustainable potable water in Zaria metropolis and its environs. Water is critical to human welfare and its availability in reliable and safe quantities helps economic and commercial activities, apart from improving health outcomes
We had the pleasure of commissioning Phase 1 of the Zaria Water project on 27th May 2017. Chief John Odigie-Oyegun cut the tape on the new 150 million litres per day Zaria Water Treatment Plant, solely funded by the Kaduna State Government…
…When we took office in 2015, contractors working on the project were owed N3.6bn. We liquidated this debt in 2016, and removed the last obstacle to completion of the water treatment plant.
We have had the good fortune of committed partners. I thank the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for funding the transmission and distribution infrastructure of Zaria Water
Every partner deserves praise: FG spent N11.8bn to build Galma Dam KDSG spent N24.69bn on the 150MLD Water Treatment Plant. AfDB contributed N30.95bn while IsDB provided N24.82bn for construction of water & sanitation infrastructure and rehab of facilities
Every partner deserves praise: FG spent N11.8bn to build Galma Dam KDSG spent N24.69bn on the 150MLD Water Treatment Plant. AfDB contributed N30.95bn while IsDB provided N24.82bn for construction of water & sanitation infrastructure and rehab of facilities
The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday visited Kaduna State in north-west Nigeria.
He was welcomed to the state by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as well as the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, among others.
Professor Osinbajo, thereafter, proceeded to the venue of the Passing-Out-Parade ceremony of cadets of the Nigerian Air Force Direct Short Service Commission (DSSC) Course 28.
The event, which held at the Military Training Centre, Kaduna, enjoyed the presence of top military officers and dignitaries.
DSSC is being conducted by the Military Training Centre for university and polytechnic graduates.
The course curriculum covers both military and general service subjects, which broadly introduce the cadets to military regimentation as well as NAF operations and administration.
Accordingly, the cadets during the course which lasts six months receive training in essential aspects such as drill, weapon and field training.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has announced that female civil servants in the state will get six months for maternity leave.
Speaking after he was sworn for a second term on Wednesday, the governor explained that the initiative was to ensure that children were adequately cared for, well-fed and receive all the nutrients they would need within the first six months of their lives.
He also announced free medical care for children below five years in public hospitals in the state.
“In education and health, we have shown a commitment with investments to expand the access of ordinary people to these public goods,” El-Rufai said.
He added, “Our commitment to universal health coverage will continue. Therefore, we shall accelerate the implementation of contributory health insurance scheme as a priority of this administration.
“Just yesterday, our state executive council approved six months of maternity leave for female public servants. This is to encourage the healthy development of infants.
“Mothers in our state are also reminded that children up to age five get free medical care in our hospitals. They are entitled to free regular medical checkups in all public hospitals. Please, take advantage of this.”
The governor also announced that his government has made free and compulsory education available for girls in the state.
“We took bold steps to improve the teaching standards. We have made basic education truly free in Kaduna state and we have made education free and compulsory for our girls up to the end of senior secondary school,” he said.
He added, “We’ll continue to fix existing schools and build new classrooms where necessary and support our teachers to deliver decent public education.”
I am pleased to announce that just yesterday, our State Executive Council approved six months maternity leave for our female public servants. This encourages the healthy development of infants through prolonged breastfeeding, among other benefits.
I address you today with gratitude to Almighty God who has made this day possible. I salute you all for the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections in our state. With your votes, you have granted President Muhammadu Buhari and me the privilege of a second-term in office.
I am grateful for this mandate, and will discharge it responsibly. Please be assured that our Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, and I will work tirelessly in the service of all the people of Kaduna State. pic.twitter.com/gOVuA4VOoz
Permit me to use this opportunity to place on record my sincere appreciation for the service that His Excellency, Architect Barnabas Yusuf Bala, has rendered to our state. As Deputy Governor, he was a committed partner as we worked tirelessly to make this state better… pic.twitter.com/THaRcL5x4S
Architect Barnabas Yusuf Bala has been a committed partner in our quest to develop Kaduna State. As he leaves the office of Deputy Governor, I thank him for his service and wish him and his family the very best pic.twitter.com/2e6WxoxOpq
Ours is the government of everyone who lives in Kaduna State. I call on every resident of Kaduna State to join hands with us in the hard tasks that lie ahead. Back in March 2019, we all made our democratic choices, and freely expressed our preferences… #NextLevelKadunapic.twitter.com/aReoIi5iLe
… Whatever our partisan affiliations and however we might have voted, we are all compatriots and fellow citizens. It is time to put politics aside and work together in the urgent task of improving the lives of all our people, and keeping them safe. #NextLevelKaduna
Let us cherish our diversity while embracing equal citizenship, the rule of law, and respect for the lives and livelihoods of all who call Kaduna State home. #NextLevelKadunapic.twitter.com/Ki2CZn69vl
As stated in our acceptance speech after the election, we will continue to do our utmost to unite our state and rid our communities of strife. The pain of loss is unbearable, and it has been felt too frequently by too many of our fellow citizens
We must replace the legacy of division and violence with one of peaceful, collective endeavour in progressive undertakings. We should not maroon ourselves on the desert islands of identity politics, or neglect the obligations of our common humanity. #NextLevelKadunapic.twitter.com/0twPgZ4LSr
Strife is not our destiny,neither is division preordained. Let us come together in the ever more urgent task of human progress. To educate every child. To create jobs. To care for the sick. To protect life and property. To comfort the afflicted. To strive for peace in our time.
We pledge to continue the vigorous implementation of our governance agenda of Putting People First. During our first term, we signalled and then demonstrated that we stand firmly with ordinary people. We put the needs of ordinary people at the centre of governance.
In education and health, we have shown a commitment with investments to expand the access of ordinary people to these public goods. pic.twitter.com/EKRgnlAq6j
Second Inauguration Address by Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, delivered at Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna, on Wednesday, 29th May 2019 : 1. pic.twitter.com/GolhOPvzaU
As Deputy Governor @DrHadiza Balarabe and I begin this term of service to our people, I call on all residents of Kaduna State to unite in progressive endeavours for peace and development. May Almighty God bless our state and all its people. pic.twitter.com/WPzXEpbtBP
The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has visited the security operatives and residents injured during the violent clashes in Kasuwan Magani community in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
The state government shared some photos of the visit on Twitter on Sunday.
One of those visited was the Divisional Police Officer in Kajuru, Umar Faruk, said to be receiving treatment for gunshot wounds he sustained during the violent clashes.
