DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE

'COP 24 summit on climate change, an eye opener' -Lere LG Chair

Hon. Abubakar Buba: Lere Local Council Chairman

Towards the last lap of last year, Poland played host to world leaders to address the menace of climate change in the world. One of the personalities who represented Kaduna state at the all-important ensemble, was the Lere Local Government Council Chairman Honorable ABUBAKAR BUBA. He shared his experience while in Poland and his 2019 plans for the good people of Lere in a chat with Cubinks' EDDY OCHIGBO

What is your assessment of the on going local government reforms in Kaduna state?

So far so good, especially against the backdrop of Open Government Partnership (OGP), which has made it possible for us to open up government for the people to have a say and contribute their quota to the activities of government. You realize that when you involve the people in the decision-making process, they naturally take ownership of the entire process. And when the people are allowed to participate they eventually become implementers thereby speeding up the services delivery.

Looking at Lere Local government council's Budget town-hall meeting, the second in the series, has the initiative been able to address the concerns of the people?

Yes indeed. The town-hall meetings have been very beneficial to the people because they have come forward enthusiastically with specifics regarding what they want the local government to do for them. This makes it easy for us to address and prioritize real needs from time to time. And when such policies are implemented, you would have performed the much needed task of taking government closer to the people.

How would this year's budget proposals of the council impact positively on the people of Lere?

It's a people-oriented Budget because we placed high premium on health, water supply, agriculture, education and youth empowerment/entrepreneurship. Since our people are predominantly farmers, we are determined to give them all the support they need towards boosting high productivity. In the area of water supply, we are doing our best to ensure that water scarcity becomes a thing of the past throughout the local government area. This is because we've come to the realization that efficient water supply is key to the overall improvement of the people's standard of living. On education; and it might interest you to know that the state government under the Governor el-Rufai's led administration, has declared a state of emergency on education. Consequently, a substantial part of the council's budgetary provision for the year is dedicated to education and healthcare.

Recently you were part of the state's delegation to Poland for the COP 24 submit on climate change. Can you please share your experience while there and how can it benefit the Lere people?

It was a beautiful experience because it was an event which attracted world leaders vis-a-vis climate change. As you are no doubt aware, climate change is a very serious issue in today's world. While in Poland we met with various global bodies charged with the responsibility of halting the menace of climate change. So our trip was very significant because we approached and sought the assistance of global partners as we advanced the issue of deforestation, ecological challenges as we as the provision of solar energy. We were able to negotiate with a good number of stakeholders who indicated interest in the area of mitigating the problem of climate change in the state.

What has been your major challenge as the chairman of Lere Local Government Council?

There is one thing I know in life. There can be no gain without pain. But I rely essentially on self-conviction. Once you are able to convince yourself about the way to go, the challenge reduces drastically. The road has not been smooth but with the kind of help from the state government, ministries and agencies we are making progressive inroads as a Council and the Lere people appreciate what we've been doing to change their standard of living for the better. I am really very pleased that once you ask the state government for assistance, you will be given. Good a thing that we've been able to assemble the right team to move the local government Council forward. Which is why despite the challenges facing us, we are moving on progressively carrying everyone along. So I can say categorically that we've been doing our best, even though the best is yet to come, because we've invested heavily on the essential areas of providing the basic needs of our people.

Comments

NEWS FEATURE: Governor el-Rufai and the Sanctity of the Ballot

el-Rufai: Voting at his polling unit BY NASIRU JAGABA F irst of all, let me start by congratulating the Citizens of Kaduna State, for violence free election in the local government polls. The peaceful conduct of the citizens in Kaduna despite the happenings that had shown clearly the desperation of persons in the corridor of power to manipulate, overturn the result refused to give in to the chaos but rather responded with all sense of maturity and confidence in the sanctity of the ballot. Had Kaduna responded in similar desperation as shown by the institutional riggers, perhaps curfew would have been slammed in several areas which would have created the perfect cover for the malpractices to happen. The hate speeches and incitement from the top government officials in Kaduna state government did not end on the platforms for the campaigns alone but went further to reflect in the exercise that held. There are several accounts going round about thugs accompanying some of

'Terrorists are all over, not only Southern Kaduna'

-Governor Nasir el-Rufai el-Rufai addressing Journalists in Hausa after a security meeting on Southern Kaduna By DANGWA DANJUMA G overnor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai has admitted that terrorists are everywhere in Kaduna state, not only in the troubled Southern Kaduna, disclosing that miscreants have taken to the social media space to promote what he called disturbing and further aggravating the worsening situation situation with religious and ethnic colouration. Speaking to newsmen in Hausa, after a meeting with security officials, el-Rufai said that miscreants from Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and outside Nigeria are trying to insinuate that the Southern Kaduna killings is ethnic and religious even going as far as asking people to take the law into their hands. While maintaining that these people would be brought to book, he tasked traditional leaders, religious leaders and political office holders in the state to speak the truth about the happenings as failing to do so wo

Kaduna COVID-19 Lockdown, People Living with Disabilities and Inclusion

Chairman JONAPWD, Abdulaziz Suleiman , (Right) and a colleague (Middle) in a chat with CALPED's Yusuf Goje By SMITH WAYA Before the index case of Corona virus (Covid-19) in Nigeria, the Kaduna state government held a public hearing on the proposed Kaduna state social protection policy, in line with the administration's slogan of putting the people first. The Joint National Associations of Person with Disability(JONAPWD), Kaduna chapter, as the umbrella body for people living disabilities in the State, were invited to present a position paper on their expectations of the new policy. The Disability Community took advantage of the town-hall meeting to appeal to the state government to work assiduously towards reducing poverty and hunger in their household. The Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, assured them of the state government's commitment in ensuring that no one is left behind especially people living with disabilities. Incidently, as the State governm

Kaduna IDPs cry out over Deplorable Conditions

By DANGWA DANJUMA L ack of basic education, sanitation, healthcare facilities and access to portable water supply have hit Gwagwada, a host community camping over 300 households displaced from fifteen villages in Chikun Local Council of the state. Speaking at the flag off of relief materials distribution for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Village Head of Gadani, Mr Bitrus Tsauri disclosed: “Since they arrived, the wells which have been the sure source of water for several households in the community have dried up; the solar powered borehole is only providing drips of water necessitating most residents to seek drinking water from streams. Our two public primary schools and healthcare facility are currently inadequate and may be unsafe, especially with the coronavirus pandemic that Kaduna state is still counting cases”. He confirmed that those who can farm, have been provided land to start over again; there is still the worry however, for those who are unable to farm due t

Jagaba on Gov el-Rufai's 2020 Budget

Fallout of lopsided implementation of state budget in the education sector By Nasiru Jagaba j agabanasiru@gmail.com L et me start by commending the Governor of Kaduna state for being consistent in maintaining the January to December budget year. This provides some high level of fiscal and economic sustainability in the State. My commendation may come as a surprise to many who know that I have been a consistent critic of his government as the national youth Leader (out-going now) of Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU). My stand has not changed as I remain a dogged fighter of injustice regardless of its form of manifestation. However, in analyzing governance, one must uphold a higher level of objectivity by appreciating progress (no matter how small) while fighting for fairness, equity and justice. That aside, I have committed myself to tracking governance in Kaduna state and Nigeria to ensure that the right of citizens to deve

Cubinks NEWS

Search This Blog