1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT This Office submitted fourteen (14) memoranda on behalf of some MDAs for deliberation by Council. Ten (10) of them were approved for execution as follows: a. Presentation on Proposed request for Funds to Purchase Working Tools as well as Provide for Required Logistics to Facilitate Successful Accomplishment of the Operations of the Committee for the Protection and Preservation of Kano City Wall:- The Kano City Wall and Gates are historic monuments that attest to the epic position occupied by the settlement in the past and deserve to be jealously preserved and protected. As such, the Standing Committee on the issue communicated with Council through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government; thus: i. That the main Committee will set – up a Technical Committee to facilitate participation of all stakeholders for their contribution and co-operation on matters relating to technical aspects in the execution of the designed program on preserving and protecting the Kano City Wall. ii. That the Committee will require the allocation of operational vehicles and use of Security Personnel. iii. That the Committee will embark on sensitization and public exhibition programs to enable Kano State register/be recognized as a World Heritage site and to educate the local citizenry on the need to preserve our cultural heritage and its importance. iv. That the Committee has financial and other requirements details of which were presented to Council for consideration. Council deliberated on the request and approved the allocation of one (1) unit of Toyota Hilux DC and the release of the sum of N6, 807,000.00 for the takeoff of the Committee for the preservation and protection of the Kano City Wall as an effort towards protection of the Cultural Heritage of Kano. b. Request for Funds to assist the families of Victims of the Alakyo Killings in Nassarawa State:- A sympathetic pledge of monetary donations to the tune of N100, 000,000.00 by the Northern States Governor’s Forum was made in order to render required assistance to the bereaved families of slain/murdered Security Personnel in Alakyo, Nassarawa State. The pledge was made on 4th July, 2013 and Kano State is expected to contribute N5, 000,000.00. Council approved the release of the sum of N5, 000,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to appropriately pay into the N100, 000,000.00 pledged by the Northern States Governor’s Forum for the bereaved families of the murdered Security Personnel at Alakyo, Nassarawa State. c. Progress Recorded in the 2013 Wet Season Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS):- The Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources intimated Council, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, on the progress recorded in the 2013 Wet Season Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS). Specifically, the 2013 GESS program kicked – off on Monday 24th June, 2013 in twelve (12) LGCAs of the State namely Kura, G/Malam, Bebeji, Doguwa, T/Wada, Bunkure, Rano, Kibiya, Rogo, Kiru, Karaye and Gwarzo. The redemption exercise took place during which each registered farmer received one (1) bag of NPK and one (1) bag of Urea types of fertilizer at the cost of N3,250.00 each; 12.5 KG of rice and 10 KG of maize. Three (3) distinguished personalities visited the Karfi Redemption Center to supervise the redemption exercise. They include: i. The Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. ii. The Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. iii. Honorable Member House Committee on Agriculture from the State House of Assembly. Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation. d. Request for Funds to Enable Twenty-Five (25) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored Under the NIMASA Program to Travel from India to the United Kingdom (UK):- The State Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment communicated with Council on the preparation underway for the procurement of visa for twenty-five (25) Kano State Indigenous Students travelling to the UK from India sponsored under the NIMASA program. This is in fulfilment of the requirements of the split program having successfully completed the one (1) year mandatory program in India. Details on the financial requirements to the tune of N3,592,500.00, which was requested for release, were presented to Council for consideration. Council noted, considered and approved the release of the requested sum of N3, 592,500.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for the stated purpose to ensure successful completion of the entire course under the sponsored program. e. Request for Funds to Enable Twenty Five (25) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Studies Abroad Under NIMASA Proceed to United Kingdom (UK):- The State Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment intimated Council on preparations for the twenty-five (25) Kano State Indigenous Students sponsored for studies abroad under the NIMASA Program proceed to the United Kingdom (UK) for the remaining three (3) years of their course. These students have successfully completed their first segment training in India and have returned to Kano and are now preparing to leave for UK. The financial implications were presented to Council for consideration. Council deliberated on the financial requirement and approved the release of the sum of N12, 294,425.00 to facilitate their studies at UK. f. Request for Procurement and Allocation of Operational Vehicles to the State Tourism Board to Improve Internal Revenue Generation (IGR):- Cognizant of the Internal Revenue Generation drive of the present administration, the Kano State Tourism Board channeled its request for the procurement and allocation of two (2) 30 – Seater and three 18 – Seater buses for use at the Board to improve Internal Revenue Generation (IGR), through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Council acknowledged the request and approved the release of the sum of N7, 500,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to process the procurement and allocation of one (1) unit of Toyota 18 – Seater bus for use at the State Tourism Board. g. Request for Procurement and Allocation of Three (3) Operational Vehicles to the History and Culture Bureau:- The History and Culture Bureau reported to Council, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government that, the two (2) buses available for use at the Bureau are in terrible states of disrepair and are no more capable to facilitate efficient discharge of duties at the Bureau. Thus, a request for the allocation of two (2) Coaster Buses and one (1) Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Up was submitted to Council for consideration. Council approved the purchase of one (1) Coaster Bus at the sum of N16, 175,000.00 for the History and Culture Bureau. h. Request for Funds in Respect of Two (2) Officials that will Accompany the Twenty Five (25) NIMASA Students to UK and One (1) Director General that will see them Off at Lagos:- The contents of this memorandum was a request from the State Youth Directorate for Economic Empowerment for the release of the sum of N2,293,196.00 to facilitate the journey of two (2) Officials that will accompany twenty-five (25) Kano State Indigenous Students sponsored under the NIMASA Program to UK. Deliberating on the financial implication Council approved that one officer should escort the students instead of the two requested. The sum of N1,219,598.00 was approved for the commitment. i. Offer of Scholarship to Two (2) Kano State Indigenous Students by the Chinese Government and Request for Funds to Cater for other Commitments on their Behalf and Two (2) Others:- The Chairman, Standing Committee for Entrepreneurship Support informed the State Government on the offer of scholarship to two (2) Kano State Indigenous Students by the Chinese Government this year (2013) and the subsequent nomination of the same candidates to study in China. The candidates are: i. Garba Muhammad Salim ii. Bello Isah Copies of the respective admission letters for the two (2) Students to study in China were presented for perusal as each revealed that the Scholarship award granted to the two (2) candidates cover tuition, accommodation, medical insurance, learning materials, medical care and living allowances. As such, Council approved the release of N1, 312,000.00 to facilitate the procurement off air tickets and some other commitments for the selected candidates. Again, two (2) candidates nominated in 2012 need to be provided with the sum of N326, 000.00 (N163, 000.00 each). The Students are: i. Zulfiqiar Bibi Faruk ii. Sha’awanatu Aminu Therefore, the total request was for Council to approve the release of the aggregate sum of N1, 638,000.00 for four (4) Students (2 nominated in 2013, 2 nominated in 2012). Council noted, considered and approved the release of the requested sum of N1, 638,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to cater for the stated purpose. j. Request for Funds In Respect of Fourteen (14) Technical Subjects Teachers Sponsored for Studies at Bradford Technical College United Kingdom for Customized Training:- Office of the Secretary to the State Government reminded Council of its approval granted for the nomination/sponsorship of twelve (12) Technical Subjects Teachers and two (2) Inspectors to attend six (6) Months Training Programs at Bradford Technical College United Kingdom (UK) for customized Training. A breakdown of the financial commitment was submitted by the College for consideration by Council. Thus: i. Accommodation for six (6) months at 2,850.00 Pounds Sterling per Teacher x 14 = 39,900.00 Pounds Sterling ii. Logistic/E - materials (Laptop, Printer, etc) at 1,000.00 Pounds Sterling per Teacher x 14 = 14,000.00 Pounds Sterling Total = 53,900.00 Pounds Sterling (equivalent to N260 x 53,900 = N14,014,000.00) Therefore, approval was sought from Council for the release of the sum of N14, 014,000.00 which was granted to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to cater for the stated purpose.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 16:56:37 +0000