Abdullahi Sule, the governor of Nasarawa State, has urged Nigerians to use the nation’s 63rd anniversary of independence as an opportunity to reflect soberly on the country’s progress to date.
In order to put Nigeria on the path of development and growth, he pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu’s reform initiatives.
The governor made the appeal in Lafia on the 63rd anniversary of Nigeria’s independence, which also marked the 27th anniversary of the founding of Nasarawa State.
With his initiatives to improve Nigerians’ quality of life, he claimed the president had good intentions for the nation.
The governor said better days are coming and that the current suffering endured by Nigerians as a result of the removal of fuel subsidies is only temporary.
Gov. Sule remarked that in spite of the difficulties, his administration remained committed to carrying out its mandate and fulfilling the aspirations and longings of the state’s citizens.
The governor announced an increase in vehicle and furniture loans for civil servants from N10 to N50 million on the occasion of independence.
He explained that the change was made to enable greater participation and to increase the beneficiaries’ purchasing power.
Additionally, he made plans to increase the existing Cash Transfer Scheme’s N7000 monthly stipend from its current N5000 level.
Approximately 1,000 employees who had been employed on a casual basis since the state’s founding have recently been absorbed and given permanent and pensionable appointments, according to the governor.
He continued: “In our determination to improve the living standard of our people, the government restored the 100 percent payment of the monthly pension to the state retirees. This course of action has transformed the living conditions of our retirees in the state.
“The government also addressed the percentage payment of pension and salaries of Local Government employees. As of today, we have stabilized the payment of salaries of workers and pension of Local Government retirees at 100 percent.”
In the area of education, the governor restated the commitment of his administration to channel enormous resources towards enhancing the educational sector of the state.
“In this regard, we have facilitated the mass construction and rehabilitation of classroom blocks in our primary and secondary schools across the State. This is based on our conviction that a conducive environment enhances effective teaching and learning.
“Similarly, we have employed about three thousand, five hundred (3,500) teachers in our State Secondary Schools. We also employed additional teaching and non-teaching staff in our State tertiary institutions. This is geared towards enhancing the educational development of our dear State.
“In our commitment to encourage Science and Technical Education, we have established the Faculties of Engineering and Medicine in the Nasarawa State University, Keffi. I am informed that the University has released admissions into the new faculties for full take-off of the 2023/2024 academic activities,” he added.
