Kebbi: Gov. Nasir’s Focused Palliatives Masterstroke
By Musa Kabir
One of the strongest points of the APC and comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu’s campaign was to pursue welfarist policies that will better the lives of the common man in Kebbi state. It is, therefore, heartwarming that the governor’s leadership approach since he was sworn has typified his campaign promise. Hardly a week passes by without the governor rolling out one new welfare intervention or the other just to better the lives of the common people of the state, an action that has invited praise and commendation from people both from within and without. It is very hard to keep count of the governor’s welfare interventions since May of last year, however, to do justice to this piece, it is pertinent that to trace some of them, spread across several areas, even just for the sake of context.
As a worker in the state’s civil service, it is only natural that I begin with the governor’s well celebrated decision to pay all civil servants in the state’s as well as Local Government employ leave grants amounting to 10% of their net annual pay as Ramadan Bonus. This decision has been hailed as very a thoughtful and timely initiative. Without mincing words, the gesture has helped the states work force to observe the Ramadan fast with a great deal of dignity, helping them to focus on maximising the importance of the holy month. But that is not all, the governor also extended a kind gesture to workers by reducing work hours. Without making it too obvious, the gesture was to reduce the physical strain that fasting in this dry season weather was sure to impose on workers. Accordingly, workers in the state’s employ will now work from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday to Thursday while work was to terminate at 12 :00 noon Fridays throughout the duration of Ramadan.
However, the worker’s Ramadan welfare package pales in comparison to other Ramadan welfare initiatives focused on the common people. These include the distribution of assorted grains to mostly indigent people as palliatives as well as the opening of Ramadan feeding hubs. As public declaration of intents and commitment to help those in need and provide relief to those affected by the present socio-economic problems go, it doesn’t come any better than this. This initiative has shown that the governor is resolute in his decision to always stand in solidarity with the common people and such a symbolic gesture of communality deserves all the accolades it has received.
The Ramadan palliatives which gulped over N12 Billion Naira of the states resources was made up of 9,900 bags of rice and 9,500 bags of grains would go to teachers, 4,000 bags of rice and 3,400 bags of grains would go to the state’s ministries, departments, and agencies while 1,000 bags of rice and 1,000 bags of grains would go to Islamic scholars, among others. Because of the significance of the Ramadan palliatives and to head off any unforeseen issue of fraud in the distribution process, Governor Idris utilised mosques for the distribution exercise as 9 mosques as well as 16 were selected from each LGA and Birnin Kebbi respectively. The distribution was staggered among the LGAs with some receiving their palliatives in the first 10 days, others in the second 10 and last 10 days of Ramadan. This was to allow for efficient monitoring and evaluation.
Still on Ramadan, at least, three feeding centres where the less privileged or other people like travellers can break their Ramadan fast have been established in each of the 21 local government areas of the state. The feeding is to commence right from the first day of the Ramadan all through to the end. This brings to 69 the total number of feeding centres to be opened across the state just to feed anyone who turns up in the location to break their fasting. This is a gesture that although simple on the surface, is very integral to the survival of many who could have broken their fast with little or nothing to eat.
Governor Idris has been on this trail of welfarism since taking over office in May of last year. This was demonstrated by his decision to transact in action where many others were wasting so much time punching holes on the premise upon which the President ended the subsidy regime. Nothing screams action better than the governor’s decision flag-off of Palliatives distribution in Maiyama local government area of the state in October of last year. At the end of the exercise, over 720,000 families from across all 21 local government areas of the state were reached by the transparent distribution of economic relief items.
Governor Idris did all this without depending on the federal government, further demonstrating his dedication to the plight of the people. Working with the state House of Assembly, he impressed upon them the need to bankroll from the state coffers, the cost of the over 210 truckloads of grains worth N5.7 billion distributed to the vulnerable public to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal and provide sustainable means of livelihood to citizenry. In the thoroughly transparent exercise, each of the 21 local governments got 10 trucks of grains; rice and millet which are the most commonly consumed foods by the citizens. The consequences of this timely intervention were the steep fall of grain prices in Kebbi in the months of October through December.
To ensure probity and accountability in the palliatives sharing exercise and ensure only indigent people are impacted by the initiative, Gov. Kaura constituted a special purpose committee composed of states executive members, local government party chairmen, representatives of youth leaders, various security agencies, and other critical stakeholders in the state to handle the exercise. This no doubt was a demonstration of the governor’s commitment towards running an inclusive and open government.
Our Governor, his excellency Dr. Nasir Idris is working out several approaches with which to change the narrative of governance in Kebbi state one impact at a time. And, by prioritising the welfare of workers and most importantly, the states teeming masses, he leaves behind him a trail of gratitude that will outlive him. Like Oliver Twist, however, we, the people of Kebbi state continue to ask for more and the reason is simple; we have a governor that is equal to all our aspirations.
Kabir writes from Birnin Kebbi
