The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has commended Governor Abba Yusuf for his significant efforts in addressing the plight of pensioners in the state and paying attention to girl child education.
Emir Sanusi highlighted that the present administration paid attention to pensioners who had previously been thrown into unnecessary hardship and poverty due to unpaid pensions and gratuities.
He emphasised that “The difference between paying attention and not paying attention is sometimes the difference between life and death for the pensioner or his family. Some of them have died. We must always remember that we are all accountable to God Almighty for not fulfilling our obligations to those who served the state for 35 years.”
The Emir praised Yusuf for the recent disbursement of N6bn in gratuity and death benefit payments to pensioners and the additional release of N5bn earmarked for continued payments, alleviating the financial burdens on retired workers as well as the payment of N11bn within one is certainly commendable.
The Emir of Kano also noted with delight the efforts being made by the Governor in improving girl child education in the state.
The Emir, who was speaking during a courtesy call by the state Commissioner of Information, Baba Dantiye in company with his Science, Technology, and Innovation counterpart, Alhaji Mohammed Tajo Othman at the Emir’s palace today noted that the governor had recorded tremendous achievements in girl child education by providing shuttle buses and teaching and learning materials.
He emphasised that girl child education addresses issues such as child marriage, antenatal care, malnutrition, and poverty, which need to be solved. He urged the private sector to complement the state government’s efforts in building schools, provision of transportation for students, and in school feeding programmes.
Furthermore, Emir Sanusi discussed the critical issue of child nutrition, highlighting its importance for brain development and effective learning.
He cited alarming statistics from 2017, indicating that about 50 per cent of children in Kano were malnourished, leading to weakened immune systems which hampered their growth.
He praised the state government for initiating the rehabilitation of nutrition centres and pledged his support in overcoming malnutrition in the state.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Information, Dantiye, highlighted some of the achievements of the present administration, especially in education, health, and the payment of retirement benefits.
He said the courtesy visit served as a platform for reaffirming the collaborative efforts between traditional leaders and the government to address key issues affecting the well-being of the people of Kano.
During the visit, the Commissioner was accompanied by the State Commissioner of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Alhaji Muhammad Tajuddeen Othman, the management staff of the ministry, and all heads of agencies under the Ministry of Information.
