The Nasarawa State Government said it would distribute about 20, 000 bags of rice to vulnerable households aimed at cushioning the prevailing economic hardship being experienced across the state.
Governor Abdullahi Sule disclosed this while commissioning a newly established public primary school built by the Chairman of Keffi Local Government Area and named after his late son, Hassan A. A. Sule, in Gidan Zakara on Thursday.
The Governor added that his administration would also distribute cash to persons not under the employment of government in order to provide them with the resources to engage in meaningful economic activity.
“There are a lot of people that are finding it difficult to feed. The economic hardship being caused are given all the leaders, starting from Mr President sleepless nights.
“Because we know the issue of insecurity is also being exercabated by the hardships being experienced by the people. And there is high inflation in the country. Just yesterday I was at the ministry of agriculture and food security. And we discussed all the areas for the benefit of Nasarawa State.
“But in order to start something in Nasarawa before it gets out of hand, we have to start distributing another palliative of our own before even that of the Federal Government comes,” he stated.
Governor Sule said with his administration already giving cash palliative to civil servants and pensioners, the focus would now be on those who are not on government employment.
While appreciating the Chairman of Keffi Local Government Area, Hon Mohammed Baba Shehu for building the school thereby supporting the state government to develop the education sector, the Governor said the state government would provide qualified teachers to run the Hassan A. A Sule Primary School.
The Governor said his administration has already approved for the recruitment of 3000 qualified primary school teachers, with additional 700 being supported by the local governments.
He also promised to direct the Nasarawa Urban Development Board (NUDB) to look into the possibility of constructing the road leading to the community hosting the school.
He equally appreciated the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) for accepting to provide chairs and tables to the new school.
The Governor also thanked the lawmaker representing Nasarawa West at the senate, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada for undertaking to construct similar block of classrooms, as well as a borehole to compliment the efforts of the Keffi Local Government Chairman.
He further disclosed that Keffi is among other towns being considered for siting the Federal Government’s housing scheme under the Renewed Hope Housing Estate which was recently launched by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
“It’s a wonderful thing that you have identified education as a way to remember Hassan. We sincerely appreciate that. I also want to thank you for supporting the government in the development of education and other things,” Governor Sule told Hon. Baba Shehu.
In his speech during the event, Keffi Local Government Chairman, Hon Baba Shehu said the idea behind the establishment and construction of the school is in fulfillment of his campaign promises to bring basic education closer to the people.
Hon Baba Shehu explained that he chose to name the school after the late son of the Governor because the late Hassan A A Sule wrote his name in gold by distinguishing himself among his peers and for positively impacting on the society.
He used the opportunity of the event to appreciate Governor Sule for undertaking the modernization of Keffi through projects that include the construction of Keffi neighborhood market, construction of Muhammadu Chindo Yamusa Square, construction of ultra modern museum, construction of Antau bridge, and construction of bridge near Audu Namalama’s House.
Others are construction and dualization of roads within the Keffi metropolis, construction of Saura bridge, construction of rural road from Jigwada through Kaibo Fulani and Kaibo Mada communities, construction of Ibrahim Barde Primary School, Angwan Waje in Keffi, as well as the rehabilitation and provision of teaching aids and instructional materials public schools for effective teaching and learning.
On his part, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, who doubles as the Chairman of the occassion, while underscoring the relevance of education in bringing development to the society, promised to compliment the efforts of the local government Chairman by constructing a similar block of classrooms as well as as constructing a borehole that would supply drinking water to not only the school but the community at large.
Senator Wadada commended Governor Sule for his sterling leadership which is being reflected in the actions of local government chairmen who are emulating the Governor as they compete with each other to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.