Swearing-in Ceremony of Honourable Commissioners and Special Advisers on Monday, August 25, 2003 at Kofar Mata Indoor Sports Hall

Courtesies

I am delighted to be with you this morning on the occasion of swearing-in ceremony of Honourable Commissioners, who are members of the State Executive Council, and Special Advisers. This occasion indeed signifies the achievement of yet another milestone in our effort to put in place effective machinery for the Administration of Kano State.

In my inaugural address on May 29 I observed that this Government’s greatest potentials and strength lied in our people, not in our physical structures. I also indicated the Government’s determination to develop the potentials of the citizenry and put their strength to absolute use. Today, I would like to re-iterate that the overall policy-thrust of this Administration would be geared towards human development, as against the previous practice of facial beautification and make-believe. We cannot waste our energy and resources on trivialities while majority of our people lead a life that is bereft of the most basic needs of human survival.

The strategy to be adopted in the pursuit of this objective will involve according top priority attention to seven key areas, namely:

I must be categorical to state that this Government will work assiduously to see to the entrenchment of the virtues of honesty and accountability in the affairs of governance. Without this essential rudiment, we could hardly realize our dream of creating the much-needed change in our society within the limited time available to us.

Toward fulfilling our pledge to boost agriculture in the State, Government has ordered for the supply of more than 100,000 tons of fertilizer for sale to farmers, at 50% rebate. We must understand that this is in no small measure an increase in the meager annual provisions of 10,000 tons or thereabout made by previous administrations. The State and Local Government Councils will jointly contribute in the payment of the 50% subsidy in a period of six months.

It must be noted too that the provision of steady supply of water to both urban and rural areas of the State remains at the core of our priorities. We however call on the public to appreciate the Government’s need for time to study the existing problems and decide on how best to address them.

To redeem our pledge of providing job opportunities for all and sundry, and to restore some form of purpose in our public institutions, Government has embarked on mass recruitment of teachers and medical workers. By this move, it must be understood once again that this Government attaches more importance to the utilization of its people’s professional know-how, and to the provision of the direly needed manpower in our educational and medical institutions, than to the renovation of the physical structures of the schools and hospitals. We shall, in due course also address the issue of supply of teaching materials and equipment to our schools and medicaments and medical equipment to our hospitals. 

In our effort to further actualize our stance on human development, Government has since released a staggering N150Million to the State Pension Board to settle all outstanding State and Federal arrears of pensions to pensioners, which accumulated over the last 20 years. Similarly, Government has disbursed another N50Million to initiate payment of arrears of gratuities. I will use this medium to assure pensioners that we shall continue to release the sum of N50Million every month for this purpose until the outstanding gratuities balance of N350Million is completely paid.

To the Local Government Staff Pension Board too, we have approved of the release of N50Million for the commencement of payment of outstanding arrears of pensions amounting to N102Million.

At this point, I wish to make it clear to all active civil servants that Government would endeavour to settle all their benefits within two months of their retirement.

Distinguished ladies and Gentlemen, I would want to sincerely acknowledge the understanding, support, prayers and benevolent messages of the good people of Kano State. I would also want to appeal to them to continue to exercise patience and tolerance while Government policies and plans as they pertain to their very existence, unfold. In particular, we are aware of the people’s urgent need for Government’s intervention on the tribulations of sanitation and floods. I will use this opportunity therefore, to notify the people of Kano that the State Government and Local Governments are jointly working out measures to address these environmental evils. It will not be out of place to reveal as well that, to adequately address the problems, the State Government has drafted a statutory bill to the Kano State House of Assembly towards the establishment of a Waste Management Board that would be charged with ensuring environmental sanitation. We have also instructed the Kano State Environmental Planning and Protection Agency (KASEPPA) to come up with sound proposals to tackle the problems of drainage in the metropolis.

On the same level, ladies and gentlemen, we are conscious of the people’s rapt desire to see Shari’ah fully implemented in Kano State. You are all aware that Government has already started working out administrative structures towards the creation of Shari’ah Commission and the Zakkat Commission. While the details and modes of operations of these two Commissions are being worked out, the Shari’ah Implementation Committee, constituted by Government earlier is still immersed in studies, and in planning for the full and faultless implementation of Shari’ah in Kano State. I must therefore solicit the cooperation and fortitude of the public here too to accord the Government some time to work out the logistics such that when implemented, the Shari’ah will stand the test of time. I however re-affirm that the Shari’ah will be the driving force behind the implementation of all our policies and programmes in such a way that the entire machinery of Government will be re-oriented and redirected to fall in line with its teachings. As far as we are concerned therefore, there will not be a no-go area, as we will strive hard to see that the teachings of Islam are applied in each and every aspect of Governance. I also call on all members of Local Government Caretaker Committees to ensure the observance of Shari’ah tenets in all their official and private dealings. 

Honourable Commissioners, Special Advisers, you must be aware that you are the vehicle through which these lofty objectives will further be achieved.  Part of the measures we intend to adopt on this course will involve the restoration of dignity and respect for the civil service, and the adoption of realistic approach towards the management of our scarce resources as well as coming up with new measures aimed at addressing the most serious problems bedeviling our society. In this direction, while a Commissioner will now head the Budget and Planning Commission, a Special adviser will be charged with the responsibility of overseeing Youth Development. Again, in our quest for professional guidance in the service of the people, we have established a very powerful Research and Documentation Directorate that would be headed by a Director General. The State Executive Council, it should be understood, will now be directly involved in the monitoring and evaluation of the execution of all Government’s policies and programmes under the various sectors.

At this juncture, I should like to inform all the new appointees that their selection in these capacities was based on their competence, track records and the conviction that they will live up to the expectation of the Government and people of Kano State.

As Chief Executives of your organizations, you will be expected to provide good and exemplary leadership, by leading modest and humble lifestyles in your official engagements and personal conducts.

Pertaining to your relationships with the Parastatals under your supervision, you should be reminded that such organizations are corporate bodies governed by laws. Accordingly therefore, Honourable Commissioners should avoid undue interference in the day-to-day running of the Parastatals, as this will, in the long run, have a negative impact on the output of such organizations. Conversely, and equally important too, is the need for the Boards of the Parastatals to keep their supervising Ministries well informed of their activities, and also involve them in handling important policy initiatives for better articulation and ultimate implementation.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to indicate that from today the days of blind followership, passive performance, sycophancy and rubber-stamping in the State Executive Council are over. All Honourable Commissioners and Special Advisers will be expected to actively participate and contribute in the decision making process. This, they will do by offering honest and sincere advice, without the fear of intimidation or harassment.

On the same course, as a departure from the status quo, we shall consider constructive criticism as an essential constituent of our development, and as an ingredient for healthy democracy. We should consider divergent views on issues as contributions that present alternative opinions on our individual and collective perceptions, so that they can serve as an eye-opener that will equip us to look inwards as we fine-tune and articulate various policies for the betterment of our people.

I would like to remind you that as public figures, the eyes of the people are cast on you to discharge the responsibilities required of you creditably. Accordingly therefore, the onus is on you to live above board, and to ensure the prudent management of our scarce resources. While there is no compromise on this, Government will not hesitate to remove any public figure whose conduct is adjudged to be inimical to the well-being and progress of our great State.

While congratulating you on your new appointment, it is my pleasure to notify you of your portfolios as follows:

Honourable Commissioners and their Ministries

Special Advisers

1. Muhammad Nasir Dikko -     Special Duties
2. Ahmad Haruna Zago -     Political Affairs
3. Sa’idu Bello -     Public Utilities
4. Maj. Abdullahi S. Garko - Security
5. Yusuf Atta - Assembly Matters
6. Binta Garba Abdullahi - Women & Children Affairs
7. Gambo Ado - Youths Development
8. Dr. Bashir S. Galadanci - Education & IT
9. Yunusa Ibrahim Dukurawa - State & Local Govt. Joint   Project
10. Crd. Mahmud Mai Shanu - Labour Affairs
11. Kassim Musa Bichi, OON - Econ. Affairs & Private Dev.
12. Nuhu Ya’u - NGO’s

Director-General

1. Dr. Tijjani M. Naniya - Research & Documentation Directorate

I wish you all Allah’s guidance in the discharge of your new responsibilities.

Wassalamu Alaikum.