Tag: Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai Presents N257.9bn 2020 Budget To Kaduna Assembly

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.

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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.

El-Rufai Enrols Six-Year-Old Son In Public Primary School

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.

Buhari Commissions Zaria Water Project

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the second phase of the Zaria Water Supply and Expansion Project.

The President arrived in Kaduna State for the Commissioning earlier on Thursday.

He was received by Governor Nasir El Rufai and other top Government Officials at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Zaria.

READ ALSO: SAPZs Can Attract About $4bn Investment Into Nigeria – NGF

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.

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.

 

 

Osinbajo Attends NAF Passing Out Parade In Kaduna

Photo: Twitter – @GovKaduna

 

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.

READ ALSO: Buhari May Submit Ministerial List Before Weekend, Says Lawan

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.

See photos below:

Photo: Twitter – @GovKaduna
Photo: Twitter – @GovKaduna
Photo: Twitter – @GovKaduna
Photo: Twitter – @NigAirForce
Photo: Twitter – @NigAirForce
Photo: Twitter – @NigAirForce

El-Rufai Announces Six-Months Maternity Leave For Kaduna Female Workers

 

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.”

El-Rufai Visits DPO, Security Operatives Injured In Kasuwan Magani Violence

 

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.

READ ALSO: Protesting Students Ground Activities At OSUTECH Over Fee Hike

He also visited some other security operatives and locals in the community where the violence occurred.

See photo below:

Police Arrest Suspected Impersonator Of El-Rufai Defrauding Kaduna Residents

 

A suspect who specialises in impersonation, extortion and defamation of character has been apprehended by the Kaduna State Police Command.

The suspect, Mohammed Jamilu specialises in using the name of the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai to commit crimes by putting his victims in fear of death or grievous hurt through false information that is capable of inciting a disturbance.

The State Commissioner of Police Ahmad Abdurahman who paraded the suspect on Friday at the command headquarters said Jamilu had been having meetings with clergymen in the state, using the governor’s name to instil fears in them.

“Mohammed Jamilu is a 30-year-old who specialises in defamation of character, he chose his victims to be those that are highly placed individuals in the society, including the clergy.

“He would speak to them, try to convince them that he was hired by the state governor to eliminate them and through that, he would incite disturbance and also extort money from them.”

READ ALSO: Three Killed As Fresh Crisis Breakout In Kaduna Community

The CP said that the suspect has confessed to the crimes alleged and has provided useful information that will be used to charge him to court.

He added that 34 other suspects were arrested for different crimes in the state.

The police commissioner also disclosed sixteen suspected kidnappers were equally arrested by troops of Operation Puff Adder that was recently launched by the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to flush out kidnappers and armed bandits along the Kaduna-Abuja highway and its environs.

“The efforts recorded so far have seen to the arrest of 34 suspects on different crimes and criminalities. These suspects belong to various gangs that terrorise the state and put the life of the citizens at risk.

“Nine suspects have been arrested for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping; 16 suspects for criminal conspiracy kidnapping and armed robbery; six suspects for criminal conspiracy, robbery and cattle rustling; two suspects for criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit an offence, kidnapping and possession of illegal firearm, one suspect for criminal conspiracy, extortion, defamation of character and giving false information.”

The CP explained that several arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons including “three AK47 Rifles with 27 rounds of live Ammunitions, one locally made pistol, one Dane Gun, a pair of army Camouflage uniform

“A Honda Civic vehicle, two motorcycles,  399 cows, 93 sheep, one dog, one Samsung S8+, Tecno mobile phones, one axe, four cutlasses, assorted charms, three torchlight, one house-breaking implement and stolen domestic animals were recovered from the suspects during the various operations,” he added.

El-Rufai Appoints New Finance Commissioner, Accountant-General

 

The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has appointed Muhammad Saidu as the new Commissioner of Finance in the state.

The appointment was made public in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan.

According to Aruwan, the position has been vacant since the resignation of the former finance commissioner, Suleiman Kwari, which took effect in January 2019.

He explained that the role of Saidu would be to “restructure and reposition the Ministry of Finance within the shortest possible time for the challenges of the second term of the Nasir El-Rufai government.”

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Governor El-Rufai also appointed Mr Idris Nyam as the Accountant-General of the state.

The former Accountant-General, Umar Waziri, has now become the Managing Director of the Kaduna Investment and Finance Company.

Aruwan said Waziri would be assisted in the task by Mr Nyam who was the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, until his new appointment.

He disclosed that the most senior director in the ministry would act as Permanent Secretary until further notice.

Dr Salisu Suleiman, the Principal Private Secretary, was also directed to cover the duties of the Chief of Staff in the absence of Muhammad Saidu.

The statement noted that all the new appointments would be effective immediately.

We’ve Attracted Over $500m Investments In Kaduna, Says El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai speaks at the state’s Economic and Investment Summit on April 3, 2019.

 

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, says the government has attracted both local and international investments of over $500 million in the last three years.

El-Rufai stated this on Wednesday in Kaduna during the Economic and Investment Summit which held in the state.

“KadInvest has become a critical vehicle for driving investments in Kaduna and providing the conducive environment for the private sector to thrive.

“Through this platform, in the last three and the half years, we have attracted over $500 million in local and foreign investments in this state,” he stated.

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The governor who noted that this year’s KadInvest is the fourth of its kind, however, revealed that the investments have generated over 100, 000 jobs.

Regardless of the feat, El-Rufai stated that the government is faced with the challenge of creating better opportunities to match the population.

He noted that the state has the third highest population in the country with an estimated 10 million people.

According to El-Rufai, over 80 per cent of the population is below the age of 35 years.

“The biggest challenge we face as a government and as a state is job creation. We, therefore, have to come up with numerous policies and reforms that will make Kaduna the first choice of investors in Nigeria.

“We know we are competing with 35 other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We also know we are competing for investable funds around the world. So we have to be better than the best to be able to attract more investments,” he added.

Traditional Rulers Congratulate El-rufai On Re-election, Urge Him to Tackle Insecurity

File photo

 

Traditional Rulers from the 23 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State have congratulated Nasir El-rufai on his re-election for a second term.

Led by the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, the traditional rulers who visited him at the Government House, also called on the governor to do more in tackling the security challenges confronting some parts of the state.

They described his re-election as a testimony of his impressive performance since his assumption into office in 2015, especially in the areas of infrastructure and human capital development.

Some others say his victory was designed by God and therefore, should not be challenged by anyone.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 11, declared El-rufai winner of the Kaduna State Governorship election held on March 9.

He was declared re-elected having polled 1, 045,427 votes, to defeat Isah Ashiru of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored a total number 814,168 votes.

Ashiru has, however, vowed to challenge the result of the election in court on the grounds that it was marred by massive irregularities.

PICTURES: President Buhari Hosts APC Governors, Senators-Elect To Dinner

 

President Muhammadu Buhari hosted Governors and Senators-Elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to dinner on Monday evening.

Channels TV gathered that the main purpose of the dinner was to hold talks about the leadership of the National Assembly.

READ ALSO: PDP Congratulates Bauchi, Benue, Sokoto Governors-Elect

Those present at the event were Governors, Nasir El-Rufai, Abiola Ajimobi, Akinwunmi Ambode, National chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole and a host of other elected APC Senators.

Below are photos from the event:

Yari, El-Rufai, Other APC Governors Meet With Buhari

Yari, El-Rufai, Other APC Governors Meet With Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari speaks during a meeting at the State House in Abuja.

 

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara State, and some of his colleagues on Tuesday met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, shortly after his arrival from his home town, Daura, in Katsina State.

The other governors, who are all members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), included Kashim Shettima (Borno), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), and Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).

READ ALSO: NAF Jet Strike Kills Boko Haram Fighters In Borno

Others are Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

Some of the governors were re-elected for a second term in the March 9 elections.

Although the purpose of the meeting was not made known, the visit came three days after the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.