ZAMFARA NGOS VOWS TO SCALE UP ADVOCACY ON NUTRITION

Rising from a two day training workshop, twenty CSOs and Coalition leaders promised to scale up advocacy on nutrition and other health issues. They also promised to have one voice on nutrition intervention programs in Zamfara state for the purpose of reducing the incident of malnutrition in the state.

Participants that attended the workshop include the State Nutrition Officer, Alh Samaila Bakwai who represented the Executive Secretary, Zamfara Primary Health Care Board as well as Civil Society members from MNCH Coalition, CSOs Nutrition Platform and Zamfara Coalition of NGOs.

A number of important presentations on nutrition, advocacy and other health matter were presented by Mr. Isaac Dare and Mr. Kunle Ishola from CS-SUNN, Abuja. After several sessions, group works and deliberations, the organisations we unanimously resolved on the following:

1. The Zamfara state government is commended for establishing a budget line for nutrition and also appropriating the sum of N116.5million for nutrition in the 2017 budget.

2. The state government should take nutrition as a priority in order to reduce incident of malnutrition in the state.

3. The Local Government Authority are also commended for allocation of a budget of seven million naira (N7,000,000.00) to nutritional activities at the LGA Levels.

4. The participant also commended the government for the implementing school feeding programs in the state which will also help improve nutrition.

5. The state government should ensure the timely release of nutrition funds for effective and efficient nutrition intervention programs in the state.

6. The Zamfara State House of Assembly should consolidate on its’ initial openness in the budget process by pushing for the domestication of the procurement law in the state and ensure that the state annual budget is always specific, measureable, achievable, realistic and time bound before passage.

7. The state government should domesticate the State Food and Nutrition Policy and other national policies that are yet to be domesticated.

8. All stakeholder should ensure accountability and transparency in programs implementation aiming at achieving the desire goals.

9. A strategic plan should be fashioned out that will enable the state meet up and fill in the wide human personnel gaps in the health sector within a specified time frame through training and retraining. Specifically, the adoption of the Human Resource Policy for Health was identified as a vital step that should be taken as soon as possible by the state government.

10. A general attitudinal change by all is required as a key factor for attaining good program implementation, to this end, civil society organisations were urged to be more proactive in carrying out advocacies.

11. The state government should ensure a rapid implementation of the Saving One Million lives programme aiming at reducing maternal death and child mortality.

12. Government and civil society organisations committed to work closely and intensify community mobilization and enlightenment campaigns on nutrition and other health issues.

13. Finally a coalition was formed and leaders to pilot the affairs organisation were elected: they are Ibrahim Tudu, of Global Network for Islamic Justice as State Coadinator and Musa Aboki as the secretary. Other positions nominated include Fin Sec and PRO 1 and 11

The training workshop was organised by a partner organisation the Civil Society Scaling- Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) which is a non-governmental, non-profit making coalition, made up of organisations with a share vision to transform Nigeria into a country where every citizen has food and nutrition security.

In conclusion , the coalition appealed to the state government for timely release of 2017 nutrition funds as budgeted. They also hoped for an upward review of nutrition budget in the year 2018. They equally wish to thank our development partners for their support not only to nutrition but to the health sector in zamfara state. Finally they called on the CSOs to be more united and more accountable in their activities.

My Zamfara Online
21/10/2017

Also Read ZAMFARA’S FOOD AND NUTRITION POLICY TACKLES MALNUTRITION, SAYS NGO

Zamfara Needs Constructive Opposition For The Betterment Of The State

By Ubaidullah Y. Kaura

Ideally, a constructive opposition would emphasize more on discussion, ask more questions, resolution of problems faced, help in amendments and passage of important bills.

Also unite with ruling govt on issues of national or state interests. Without constructive opposition our beloved state is dying, on the other hand, government can long be secure without a formidable opposition.
At the same time, opposition must warn or bring in focus issues that govt is not addressing effectively at its level.

Zamfara state need a strong and constructive opposition to only complements democracy. In the event of a weaker opposition, ruling govt and its representatives may become complacent and insensitive for duration of their rule as we are witnessing currently in Zamfara State.
But let's avoid disruptive opposition in the sense that we are opposing everything for the sake of opposing - is not good for democracy and tax-payers.

The current opposition in Zamfara state is nearly dead nothing shows officially and open that there's existing of opposition parties in Zamfara state.
What do you expect in the state where the oppositions are set to be quit in anything concerning the development, implementations, forward need and backwards need of the state.

I pity for Zamfara where the opposition parties act like non,acts incapacitated the government officials are operating state systems like their toilets but nobody's calling their attention to order.

Even a meaningful advice from serious opposition is lost, what types of democracy are we operating in the state. Without an opposition party , the people can be forced into frustration in the long run if their will is not being reflected.

The activities of the opposition parties in the state is worrisome, they act like want to remaining in the dying line of opposition forever.
Unfortunately, opposition parties in the state are doing nothing but creating factions, crisis in their own territory rather than to face the serious challenges ahead of them in their future.

As we hoping opposition party to be the next ruling party in the state come 2019, so as to strengthen our democracy and make life more abundant for our long suffering people. So we must watch our actions, we must work hand in hand with all party members because whatever we have achieved as the voice of the opposition could not have been possible without the support of all party members.

God bless Zamfara state all the time.

By Ubaidullah Yahaya kaura. (Blogger)

Also Read ZAMFARA 2019: THE BATTLE LINE

Police Rescue Kidnapped FRSC Officer In Zamfara

The Zamfara State Police Command has rescued a personnel of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Muhammad B-Kudu, kidnapped recently by unidentified gunmen at Tsafe Unit Command of the FRSC in the state.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unidentified gunmen had on Sept. 21 invaded the Tsafe Unit Command of the FRSC in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state killing one officer, Hamza Mubarak and kidnapping the rescued victim.

The state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Shaba Alkali, told NAN in Gusau on Monday, that since the abduction, the command did not relent until the safe rescue of the FRSC officer.

He said the officer was rescued on Sunday by a team of mobile policemen at Dandindin Village in Maru Local Government Area of the state.

Alkali said that though the gunmen escaped into the forest during the rescue operation, the command would continue to comb the area until all the criminals are arrested and brought to book.

“The FRSC officer was successfully rescued and brought to police headquarters, where he was formally handed over to the state FRSC Acting-Sector Commander,” the CP said.

He thanked members of the public for their support in giving relevant information that led to the dislodgement of criminals in the state.

NAN

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WAEC/NECO : ASHE LAIFIN BA NA GWAMNA BA NE KAWAI

Daga Ibrahim Bello Gusau IBG

Hausawa dai na cewa "in bera da sata, daddawa ma da wari" amma akasarin masu rubuce rubuce akan matsalar WAEC/NECO a jahar zamfara sun kuskure  ma wannan karin maganar ta hausawa, wanda hakan yassa duk rubuce rubucen su akan matsalolin kin biyan WAEC da NECO, sunka karkata a wuri daya.

A wani bincike dana gudanar a matsayin dai daga cikin manyan dalilan da sunka zama na  gaba-gaba wurin kawo cikas akan kin biyan WAEC da NECO akan lokaci, wanda da yawa daga cikin masu rubuce rubuce sunka manta ko basu zurfafa bincike akai ba, shine wata almundahana da shugabannin makarantun  gaba da sekandari (Principals)  hadin guiwa da jami'an kula da jarabawowi (exams officers) na makarantun ke yi, na yin aringizo wurin baiwa ma'aikatar ilimi hakikanin adadin yawan dalibban da zasu rubuta jarabawa daga kowace makaranta kuma a kowace shekara.

Sanan nen abu ne a wurin kowa cewa dalibbai wa'yanda ba yan cikin makaranta ba, wato (external students), basu cikin wa'yanda dokar gwamnati da dokar ma'aikatar ilimi ta jaha sunka aminta da abiyawa kuddin jarabawa.

Adadin yawan irin wadan nan dalibban da ake kira external students,a wani lokaci, su kan kusa zarta adadin yawan dalibbai yan cikin makaranta (internal students) yawa, ta yadda hakan ke kawo ma gwamnati cikas wajen biyan kudaden WAEC da NECO akan kari. Zaka samu a makaranta daya akwai dalibbai yan cikin makaranta (internal students) dake shirin rubuta jarabawa wa'yanda adadin su ba zai wuce 250 zuwa 300 ba (a matsayin misali) amma idan anka hada da dalibban cuwa-cuwa sai kaga adadin ya kai 600 zuwa 700 (ya danganta da girma ko yawan makaranta) kuma a haka za a turama gwamnati da list din su domin biya masu kuddin jarabawa.

Wadan nan dalibbai (external students) su kan biya kuddi daga #5,000 zuwa #5,500, wani lokacin ma har #6,000 ko #7,000 ta hannun jami'an kula da shirya jarabawa (exams officers) kuma duk wadan nan kudaden da wadan nan dalibban (external students) ke biya suna zuwa ne cikin aljihun/aljihwan shugabannin wadan nan makarantu hadin guiwa da jami'an shirya jarabawa (exams officers) amma ba a aljihun gwamnati ba, wanda hakan ya taimaka matuka ainun wajen gurgunta kokarin gwamnati na biyan WAEC da NECO akan kari babu tsaiko.

A wani yunkuri da tayyi a shekarar data gabata, gabanin rubuta WAEC da NECO ta shekarar 2016, Ma'aikatar ilimi ta jahar zamfara ta kafa wani kwamiti da zai zagaya dukkan makarantun gaba da pramare  dake jahar nan domin kididdige hakikanin adadin yawan dalibban da zasu rubuta jarabawa wa'yanda doka ta aminta da su a matsayin dai daga cikin matakan ragema gwamnati nauye-nauyen biyan kuddin jarabawar dalibbai, amma ga dukkan alamu aikin wannan kwamiti baiyi nasara ba, kasancewa akwai zarge-zarge dake tasowa cewa akwai wasu jami'an ma'aikatar ilimi da ake kashe-mu-raba da su na wadan nan kudade da shugabannin makarantun sekandari ke karba a hannun wadan nan dalibbai ta yadda hakan ya gurgunta aikin kwamitin ba tare da samun wani kyakykyawan sakamako ba.

Idan ya kamata ace gwamnati na biyan kuddin WAEC da NECO da basu wuce #400m ko #500m ba (a matsayin misali), sai kasamu gwamnati na kashe zunzurutun kuddi har #800m ko #1bn (a matsayin misali) a duk shekara inda gwamnati ke hasarar #400m zuwa #500m a kowace shekara (a matsayin misali), duk a sanadiyyar cuwa-cuwar shugabannin makarantun sekandari da abokanin tarayyar su.

Irin wannan halayyar tasu, ta taimaka matuka ainun wajen gurgunta cigaban ilimin matasan jahar zamfara har anka wayi gari al'umma duk sun tattara, sun jibgama gwamnati da mai girma gwamna duk wadan nan laifuffukan ba tare da la'akari da abun da munka ambata ba.

Wata makida da wadan nan shugabannin makarantun keyi itace ; a duk lokacin da kwamitin ma'aikatar ilimi zai ziyarci makarantun su domin kididdige yawan dalibbai, zasu kwaso dalibbai yan aji 4 (SS 1), da yan aji 5 (SS 2) su hadasu da dalibbai yan aji 6 (SS 3) domin rikita yan kwamitin, ba tare da sun gano komai ba balantana su san hakikanin adadin yawan wadan nan dalibban.

SHAWARA

Ina baiwa ma'aikatar ilimi da gwamnati jahar zamfara karkashin jagorancin *Hon. (Dr). Abdul'aziz Yari Abubakar (Shattiman Zamfara)* shawara akan kafa wani tsayayyen kwamiti na musamman wanda zai dinga zagayawa a wadan nan makarantu a kowace shekara domin kididdige hakikanin yawan dalibban daya kamata gwamnati ta dinga biyawa kuddin jarabawa ba tare da samun dogon jinkiri ba.

Da fatar Allah yasa wadan da abun ya shafa su duba domin samun cigaban ilimin matasan mu cikin sauri da kuma samun cigaban jahar mu ta zamfara , cigaba mai dorewa.

Written and Compiled by

Ibrahim Bello Gusau Ibg
Zamfara State APC Social Media Organisation (ZASMO).

Also read MY ADVICE TO THE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO ADRESS THE ISSUE OF MASS FAILURE (SSSCE) IN ZAMFARA STATE

MY ADVICE TO THE COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED TO ADRESS THE ISSUE OF MASS FAILURE (SSSCE) IN ZAMFARA STATE

By Ahmad Alzamfari

It is a welcoming improvement, that  Zamfara state government  has constituted seven man committee to address the issue of mass failure on  senior secondry schools certifate examinations (SSSCE). It atleast shows the government readiness to bring back life of education that has died for long.

I believe I am too young to advice this committee on this issue, most expecially knowing that the committee has great personalities that can exercise this great duty and also bring  this issue to history. With all this,  I deemed it imperative to put my contribution as somebody who wrote these papers in not more than seven years ago.

I will strict myself on what appeared in the government house press release signed by Mr. Aminu Ibrahim Gusau, Director  Press Affairs, Government House Gusau., that reads “ Also the committee would be meeting with all relevant stakeholders and provide modalities for employment of professional teachers to curve the excess of examination failure by Zamfara students . …).

Zamfara state Alhmdulilah has considerable number of professional teachers  that have passion for teaching who can take care of that . But the problems are;

How to retain them. if I can recall  at my school we lost many highly qualified teachers that  left for guicy works to be well able to sustain their families. They were taking us very sensitive subjects which include: English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and others. I believe uptill to now, that school has not gotten their rightful substitute.

Laboratories are not well equipped. There are some schools in Gusau which is the capital where their students cannot defferenciate between laboratories from libraries, and they are science students with ambition to read Engineering, Medicines, Enviromental Design courses. etc.

These and many others are part of what I think are necessary for the committee to consider.

MAY Allah bring this to an end, bless Zamfara state students, it citizens and the government. Also this write up is wishing this committee success in their duty.

THANKS.
WRITTEN BY
AHMAD MUHAMMAD
17/10/2017

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GOVERNOR YARI DIRECTS RECRUITMENT OF MORE PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

GOVERNMENT HOUSE GUSAU

PRESS RELEASE

The Zamfara State Executive Governor, (Dr) Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar (Shattiman Mafara) and Chairman Nigeria Governors' Forum has chaired the State Executive Council Meeting today Monday 16th October 2017 at Council Chamber Gusau.

During the meeting, the council approved the constitution of a committee to review the successes so far recorded in terms of school's infrastructure  and review outstanding problems. Also the committee would be meeting with all relevant stakeholders and provide modalities for employment of professional teachers to curve the excess of examination mass failure by Zamfara students. The committee will also ascertain if the available manpower of professional teachers is satisfactory.

The committee has Alhaji Sanda Muhammad Danjari Commissioner Water Resources as chairman with Hon Ummaru Jibo Bukkuyum, Commissioner Information, Hon Kabiru Ummaru Jabaka Commissioner, Professor Lauwal Suleman Bilbis and other three educationists to be coopted later as members.

However, Executive Council Project Monitoring Committee being chaired by Hon Lawal M Liman, Commissioner Rural and Community Development presented its report to the council about the status of some ongoing projects visited by the committee.

On the other hand Zamfara Ministry of Budget and Economic Planing presented "Poverty Ranking of LGA's" in Zamfara state. Which the council approved to work and upgrade the status of each local government that has deficiency in any sociopolitical and economic development.

Finally Governor Yari charged all council members to fear Allah and work toward upgrading the status of Zamfara in their respective areas of supervision.

Signed
Mr. Aminu Ibrahim Gusau Director Press Affairs, Government House Gusau.
16/10/17

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ZAMFARA 2019: THE BATTLE LINE

By Muhammad Aliyu Alkali

Agitators , hopeful aspirants,wishful thinkers and Dreamers. That what it takes others into the stream of leadership struggle blindly and unknowingly of the context politics. Others lack grassroots mobilization, some lack home advantages yet yawning for leadership.

Some politicians doesn't accept fate as frame of life but dabble into serious political war or in a do or die affair,until when  time is too short for alternative road to them.

Expression of interest by some aspirants indirectly or directly, just as usual in politics others may victims of circumstances.

Harmonization of leadership is what  we expected to happen comes 2019 with competency to avoid dabbling into another serious leadership trauma.

As all known we have  3 senatorial zones in the state, Central, west and the north. The western zone have enjoyed the state leadership by presenting two governors while the northern zone presented one and the central zone are expecting to be the next turn.

As youth and the future generation we should not fold our arms and allow ourselves to be driven into another steams of  hardship and frustrations.

We must screen and scrutinize those to elect in any political offices in our state, disregarding financial admirations or prestige after all it is part of our command  resources.

The truth remain we must eliminate leadership monopoly in our state and God*fatherism.

Muhamad Aliyu Alkali
Facebook
17/10/2017

Also by Muhammad Aiyu Alkali THE NEMESIS OF ZAMFARA HARDSHIPS