By Abdullahi Idris Sadaukin Zuru
Councillors of the 225 electoral wards and primary school’s teachers in Kebbi State have become the major beneficiaries of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris 3RD year Anniversary celebrations.
The Comrade Governor Nasir Idris’s anniversary package of a brand new motor cycle for each of the councillors was announced by the Governor at the Government House during an event, scheduled as part of the anniversary celebration.
He told the councillors that the motor cycles were made to facilitate their supervisory role of monitoring the execution of both the state and local government projects and programmes in their respective constituencies.
Governor Idris reminded them of the need for commitment and dedication to ensuring peaceful coexistence among their people and remaining resolute in their judgement on whether or not the projects being executed by contractors according to the design and specifications.
The governor emphasized the need for the sustanance of the existing cordial relationship between the local government Council chairmen, religious leaders,elders, and traditional rulers in their communities.
For the teachers serving under the State Universal Basic Education Board( SUBEB),Governor Idris commended them for their patience, dedication, and resilience in the discharge of their responsibilities.
In appreciation of their commitment, he announced that a high-powered committee would soon be appointed to review their salaries and confirm whether or not their rights and privileges, including minimum wage, are being paid as at when due, declaring that “as my constituency, i will never allow you to be shortchanged “
Governor Idris disclosed that the committee will be given 30 days to complete and submit its report.
He advised them to remain steadfast in supporting the administration’s development programmes and policies.
Speaking earlier, the secretary to the state government Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida disclosed that the consultative forum between the teachers and the administrators was initiated by Governor Nasir Idris with a view to identifying, if any, the challenges being experienced by the teachers and profer workable solutions
Also Speaking, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board( SUBEB) Professor Khalid Jega enumerated several capital intensive projects and programmes executed in the sector and other interventions provided by Comrade Governor Nasir Idris which have significantly improved the welfare of the teachers and improved the standard of education in the state.
It could be recalled that Governor Nasir has provided an eighteen- seater bus for each of the twenty-one legislative arms, recently paid the unpaid severance gratuity for the councillors that served during the previous administrations.
Similarly, Comrade Nasir’s administration had late last year procured over two million copies of textbooks and basic teaching facilities for the primary schools and about three months ago procured about twenty thousand units of furniture and distributed to primary and secondary schools in the state.
All this is in addition to the review of the years of retirement of teachers from thirty-five years of service to forty years and from sixty years of age to sixty-five in order to allow for improved quality of teaching in the schools.
Zuru is Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Kebbi State Governor
