Sani made the call in Kaduna, on Tuesday, to mark the commemoration of the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty with the theme, “Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting dignity in practice for all.”
According to him, as leaders, they must as a matter of urgency review social and economic policies to reflect the current reality of the most vulnerable, especially in the rural areas.
He noted that the illustration of the effective partnership embarked on by his administration, was the Qatar Sanabil Project for the Construction of Kaduna Economic and Mass Housing for the Less Privileged at Millennium City, in the state capital.
This, he added, when completed the Economic City would provide world-class infrastructure and make the state a reference point in modern and affordable accommodation, adequate security and a conducive atmosphere for business activities.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, released to newsmen on Tuesday.
The governor said, “As leaders, we must as a matter of urgency review social and economic policies to reflect the current realities of our most vulnerable and underserved communities especially those in the rural areas. The public and private sectors must partner and come up with lasting solutions to end poverty and hunger.
“The Economic City will facilitate international trade. In the Economic City, there will be Houses for the Poor, Clinics, Shops, Poultry Farms, Farmlands for Rainy Season and Irrigation Farming.
“The Mass Housing Project for the Less Privileged is a major contribution towards putting roofs over the heads of the poor, underserved and vulnerable in our state.
“Other empowerment programs that the poor, underserved and vulnerable in Kaduna State will benefit from Qatar Charity include scholarships for orphans and children of the poor, distribution of sewing machines, welding machines, irrigation pumping machines, salon kits, and drilling of hundreds of boreholes across the 23 local governments of Kaduna State.
“The Kaduna State Government remains focused on the poor, underserved and vulnerable who are the most affected by economic policies such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the rising cost of inflation.”
The governor also added that on entering office on May 29, 2023, several intervention programmes were put in place in order to eradicate poverty among the vulnerable in the state.
Among these, he said, “the creation of a Palliative Committee with leaders of the Organized Labour, the creation of a Central Committee for the distribution of grains and fertilizers across the 23 LGAs of Kaduna State, to benefit 210,000 households and over one million residents, with special consideration given to people living with disabilities, widows and the elderly.
“Additionally, KDSG is procuring buses for subsidized transportation by the State Government, fertilizers to be distributed to small-holder farmers across Kaduna state, providing financial support to Micro, Small and Medium Businesses.
“Similarly, tuition fees in Kaduna state-owned tertiary institutions were reviewed downward in alignment with the SUSTAIN manifesto. This was done to increase the level of student enrollment while cushioning the effect of the rising cost of living in the polity.
“Other interventions include the donation of 50% of Governor Sani’s monthly salary to a Trust Fund and the signing of Governor Sani’s first Executive Order for Financial Inclusion in Kaduna State”.
“Governor Uba Sani took a significant step by issuing the inaugural Executive Order on Financial Inclusion and inaugurating the Financial Inclusion and Literacy Committee, acknowledging that government assistance often eluded the unbanked rural population.”
