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Embrace zoning formula, Gov Ahmed urges party leadership

 

By Bukola Adama

Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has advised the party leadership across various local governments in the state to embrace zoning arrangement and consensus for general acceptability of all aspirants.

Ahmed stressed that candidates for the LG poll in this state must be those that can drive revenue as the era of reliance on federal allocation and state 10 per cent is gone.

He, however, urged the party faithful to work assiduously to ensure that APC wins all positions at the forthcoming local government election while also issuing a directive that the number of aspirants be pruned down to guide against acrimony and hatred.

According to him, “This period, responsibility of local government chairman is to drive revenue to complement other allocations to be able to pay full salaries and clear backlogs.

“Whoever wants to be council chairman must be ready to seat tight and explore revenue to succeed”.

Ahmed also spoke about the plan to strengthen local government capacities to pay salaries and to embark on capital projects.

“We have concluded arrangements on engaging Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) to assist local governments to identify revenue generating lines that will assist them to augment the dwindling monthly allocation to enable them pay salaries,” the governor disclosed.

He therefore expressed gratitude to the party members for their understanding with his government and promised to spread democratic dividends across all nooks and crannies of the state.

Speaking further, the governor said his administration will commence renovation of classrooms across Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in the state, next month.

The state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, who made the disclosure at the Banquet Hall, Ilorin during the All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday, said the projects will be executed with counterparts fund to Universal Basic Education.

Ahmed also spoke of his administration’s resolve to promote quality education by creating conducive environment for teaching and learning.

According to him, education is the only enduring legacy that could be bequeathed on tomorrow’s leaders hence it should be accorded priority.

On infrastructure development, Ahmed emphasised that all on-going projects will be completed on schedule.

 


…states readiness to partner FG on food safety, security

By Bukola Adama

The Kwara State Government has spoken of its readiness to partner Federal Government on food safety and security in order to prevent diseases outbreak.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed who gave the assurance while receiving Committee on Food Safety and Control that paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Ilorin on Tuesday, recalled that issue of food safety had not been taken seriously in the past.

Governor Ahmed praised the Federal Government for the initiative and suggested that the drive for food safety should be done alongside food security.

He assured that the state government will key into the programme by putting up state food safety committee that will sensitise the public at the grassroots.

The Director, Food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Anthonia Okpara, who represented the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, said they were in the state for sensitisation and campaign of national policy on food safety.

She told the governor that they were at the point of implementing the programme, adding that the committee intends to carry the campaign to the grassroots.

Also speaking, a food safety expert from UNIDO, John Funsho, appealed to Governor Ahmed to key into the project for the benefit of the citizens.

He explained that the state is taking a lead in agro-business and spoke of the committee’s intention to make a template for all.

Funsho emphasised that if Nigeria must diversify its economy from crude oil to agric, food safety must be taken seriously.

 


…says IVTEC, Ajase-Ipo will run as NGO

By Bukola Adama

The Kwara State Government has disclosed that the International Vocational Training and Entrepreneurs College (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo is to run like a Non-Governmental Organisation in order to ensure its sustainability.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the introduction of the NGO model became necessary so as to bring down entrance barrier for the common people to benefit.

The governor, who made the disclosure while featuring on a programme tagged Governor Explains in Ilorin, yesterday, said the vocational centre was established in order to serve as a training ground for manpower.

He added that the centre was conceptualised as a result of high demand for vocational training for youths in the state.

The governor stated that though the college is owned by the state but the need to attract international donors means it would be run as an NGO.

On the issue of local government salaries backlog, Ahmed said the state government should not be blamed for the situation.

On infrastructural development, the governor said his government is committed to bridging infrastructure deficit in the state.

He explained that the Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange was necessary to allow for easy vehicular movement at different entry points into the state capital.

 

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