By Ahmed Rufa’i Dutse

The Chairman Jigawa State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, (JSPCAC), Barrister Salisu Abdu said the commission would focus more attention on prevention of corrupt practices aimed at discouraging and reducing the act to minimal level.

This was contained in a press statement issued by the head of education and public enlightenment in the commission, Mr Yusif Suleman to our reporter in Dutse, the state capital.
According to him that would be achieved through massive campaign against corruption and abuse of office and also through mass media.

According to the statement, the commission’s chairman is determined to collaborate with media organizations to intensify massive public enlightenment campaign against the immoral act to prompt the general public to take it as their duty and responsibility to discourage and expose any corrupt person without fear irrespective of his/her status.

Mr Yusif Suleman explained that “In that regard the chairman led the commission’s management and pay courtesy visits on some media stations in the state to inform them of his plan to collaborate with them to achieve the objective of the commission.

Speaking at some of the public and private Radio stations in the state during the courtesy visits, the JSPCAC chairman noted that “media and Radio stations are critical stakeholders to reach the general public in the fight against corruption.

According to the chairman, “The media houses will serve as vehicle through which the commission can reach out to many people of the state for enlightenment campaigns on the implication and consequences of engaging in corrupt practices”.

He said “our reason to putting more effort in prevention is in the believe that prevention is better than cure. We are determine to prevent it before it occur”.

In his word “One of the strategy of the commission is engaging in rigorous public enlightenment and education on the dangers of corruption as a way of preventing the menace in the society”

“The critical areas may be education and awareness through your various media, to educate people on the dangers of corruption, its implication and consequences and that is one area that we will want to relate with you”

“I believe if our activities are carried along to the doorstep of members of the public by the media, it would be easier for us to do our Job” the Chairman emphasized.

He further stated that it was part of the commission’s duties also to initiate investigations and prosecute any corrupt related offences, as well as receive complaints on civil cases from individuals or group and mediate in accordance with the law.

He, however stressed that the enormous responsibility cannot be achieved without the support of the media through which people would be sensitized on the agency’s existence and how they can approach it with their complaints free-of-charge on any matter that they feel aggrieved about.

The Chairman sought the support of various media organisations especially radio stations in achieving the objectives of a corrupt-free state.

He further stated that the commission is opened to suggestions that would help it to discharge it onerous responsibility.

The chairman also used the opportunity to assure the general public and individuals who wish divulge information of corrupt practices in any government agency of confidentiality.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

Jigawa state governor, Malam Umar Namadi has given matching orders to all construction firms handling 360 kilometers road in the state
to ensure their completions before Democracy day (May, 29).

The governor gave the order during an unscheduled visit to an ongoing 26 road projects across the state he insisted on timely completion of the projects before the rain commence and for the benefits of public.

Namadi told the contractors that, his administration is ready to continue to patronizing any company that demonstrated seriousness and sincerely in handling his work.

According to him “We are really serious on ensuring adherence to the contractual agreement, government is factual in payment at when due, so that we will not tolerate or accept any breach of contractual agreement particularly on quality and timely completion in accordance with the specification”.

The ongoing projects inspected by the governor were mostly rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads and bridges damaged by flooding in the last two years.

Governor Namadi assured the Jigawa state people that, his government will ensure the completion of all the ongoing road projects and award new ones to facilitate the movement of goods and services for social and economic development.

The various projects inspected by by the governor are new and rehabilitation of road and culverts destroyed by flood last year.
He urged the construction firms to speed up the work for a timely completion.

While shedding more lights on the state project, the commissioner for Works and Transport, Engineer Gambo S Malam said, the ongoing road projects have a total distance of 360 kilometers, while in some roads the works included rebuilding of the collapsed bridges and provisions of new ones.
He added that, so many measures were taken in the reconstruction of the roads and bridges damaged by the flood to prevent such problem In case of any flood in the future..

The contractors handling various road projects across the 27 local government areas of the state, assured the state governor that, they will deliver quality job and in a good time.

From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

The Secretary to the Jigawa state government, Malam Bala Ibrahim has inaugurated a 16 member Advisory Committee on Disability Trust Funds to develop action plan and comprehensive framework for effective implementation of the Fund.

Inaugurating the Committee, the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Bala Ibrahim said the Fund was established to carter for the welfare of the people with disability (PWD) in the State.

He said the fund was jointly established by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, office of the Head of civil service and the Nigeria labour congress”.

According to the SSG “The Persons with Disability Law section 17(1) provide for the establishment of fund to be known as Jigawa State Person with Disabilities Fund which was launched on the 30th December 2021 in line with the provision of the Law 2017 where both Public and Private Organizations as well as individuals operating in the State are humbly expected to contribute to the fund as part of Corporate Social Responsibility”.

Malam Bala Ibrahim stated that the Funds is for the overall development of PWDs and it would greatly assist Government in meeting their day to day needs and at the same time would provide a base for strategic Government intervention in the area of social and economic services such as Economic Empowerment, Health Care Service, Provision of Qualitative Education of both Persons with Disability and their children at all level, within and outside the State.

The SSG said the appointments of the Committee members is based on merit and competence. “Your appointment into this committee comes with huge trust and remarkable belief in your ability and capacity to carry out this important tasks”.

He said part of the terms of reference of the Committee is to develop action plan and comprehensive framework for effective implementation of the Funds, ensure multi-sectoral collaborations, develop and maintain a standard system for retrieving pledges so as to provide support supervisory role to the programme as well as to ensure effective and continuous process of identify new donors for the programme.

Responding, on behalf of the Committee members, the Chairperson of the Committee who is also the commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab commended Governor Malam Umar A Namadi for giving them the opportunity to serve in the Committee.

She said “I wish to appreciate His Excellency, Malam Umar A. Namadi, for appointing us and for the confidence reposed in us”.

Hajiya Abdulwahab assured that the committee will do all what is possible to ensure that the objective of the Committee is achieved.

Members of the Committee includes, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, Chairperson, Barrister Abdulfatah Abdulwahab, Talban Hadejia, representing traditional rulers, Dr Abubukar Sani Birnin Kudu, representing Council of Ulama, Honourable Adamu Shu’aibu, representing, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi Kiyawa, representing, Ministry of Justice, Zainab Baba, Public Relations Officer, representing Ministry of Information, Muhammad Bare Birniwa, Social Worker, and Aminu Adamu Ringim.

Others are Stella Esedunme, Programme Manager, Expanding Social Protection for Inclusive Development, Sunusi Alhassan Maigatari, Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress, Bashir Tijjani, Chairman Trade Union Congress, Shu’aibu Musa Kafin Gana, representing CSOs, Saleh Zakar, Executive Secretary Rehabilitation Board, Gambo Ibrahim Suleiman, DAF Rehabilitation Board, Hassan Babandi, Rehabilitation Board and Aminu Salisu, Rehabilitation Board