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Tag: Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i

  • Gov. El-Rufai pledges stronger citizens engagement in governance

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has reiterated his administration’s commitment for a robust citizens engagement in governance processes in the state.

    El-Rufai made the commitment in a video broadcast to wrap up the 2022 Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week in Kaduna on Saturday.

    He said that the civic space had proven to be robust and effective in the state as evident in the seamless collaboration between state and non-state actors during the 2022 OGP Week.

    According to him, the state government will continue to broaden the civic space and engage with citizens to improve their trust in the government and the governance processes.

    He explained that the OGP Technical Working Groups (TWGs) and State Steering Committee, made up of civil society members and government, serves as a productive platform for implementation of the state’s Action Plan, 2021 to 2022.

    “At this point, we recognise the various accountability mechanisms working around the OGP, such as Kaduna Basic Education Accountability Mechanism (KADBEAM) and Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM).

    “Others are Kaduna Social Protection Accountability Coalition (KADSPAC) and Local Government Accountability Mechanism (LGAM).

    “We recognised their active and effective engagement so far and we will continue to open the civic space for stronger citizen engagement,” he said.

    He explained that the Kaduna State Government had joined the OGP in 2016 as part of efforts to promote transparency, accountability and improve civic participation in governance.

    He added that the OGP Week was a global event that required OGP members to implement activities around open governance.

    The governor said that in commemorating the 2022 OGP Week, May 16 to May 20, Kaduna State along with citizens’ groups carried out activities around Community Development Charter (CDC) Protocol Validation.

    He said: “The step is to further strengthen the innovative CDC process that allows citizens to influence the state annual budget.

    “There was also the high-level Multi-Stakeholders Forum dialogue on the progress of the OGP State Action Plan with community stakeholders in the state.

    “Another activity is a community sensitisation on OGP in Igabi and Kaduna South local government areas, towards increasing citizens’ participation for improved service delivery in education and health sectors.

    “Other activities include dialogue on Curbing Systemic Corruption and Recognising Open Contracting Data Heroes: Publishers and Users, and media engagement by the Commissioner/Government Co-chair, OGP, on successes recorded so far.”

    He disclosed that the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been mandated to prioritise the implementation of the new commitment areas in the 2021 to 2023 Action Plan.

    “We want the OGP community to note that we have reaffirmed our commitment to open governance.

    “We shall maintain focus and ensure that “we finish our tenure as strongly as we started.

    “This, we shall do within the principles of the OGP and our mantra of putting people first,” El-Rufai said.

    Newsmen reports that the OGP week celebrated reformers who have successfully opened governance around the world and offer space for co-creation of reforms with citizens to tackle pressing challenges.

    The week also presented an opportunity to share experiences, lessons learnt and achievements.

  • We have not pull out of ongoing strike – KASU lecturers

    We have not pull out of ongoing strike – KASU lecturers

    The Academic Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) branch, said on Sunday that it has not pulled out of the ongoing strike as claim by the university’s management.

    The union made this known in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Dr Peter Adamu, and Assistant Secretary, Dr Akos Ibrahim, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna.

    The union dissociates itself from the purported circular released by the university authorities asking students and lecturers to resume academic activities on May 9.

    According to the lecturers, the directive violates the position of the union in the current struggle.

    “The attention of the union was drawn to a purported circular trending on social media platforms stating that KASU Management has pulled out of the current roll-over strike action declared by ASUU.

    “Specifically, the memo dated April 26, 2022, directed all members of staff and students to resume academic activities by Monday, May 9, 2022.

    “It is imperative at this point to clarify this and properly inform and educate the public that ASUU-KASU dissociates itself from the purported circular released by the university management.

    “It purely violates the position of the union in the current struggle.”

    The lecturers described the circular as a “ploy” to misinform the public, parents and guardians, and to blackmail the union.

    According to it, the university management has a right to open the university while members of the union also have the legitimate right to continue with the ongoing strike action.

    “It is important to note that the management of the university is not the mouthpiece of the Union and cannot speak on behalf of the union.

    “Therefore, the union advises parents and guardians not to allow their children to resume for now until the current roll-over strike action is suspended.”

    The union explained that the ongoing strike is in the best interest of the university system and no amount of threat would cow the branch to withdraw from the current struggle.

    It argued that the participation of workers in any industrial struggle is statutory and constitutional as outlined in Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    It added that the International Labour Organisation and Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948, also recognises the freedom of association of workers.

    The union said that both statutes uphold the tenets that workers should be free to join any trade union without coercion by their employers or any authority.

    “Therefore, the participation of KASU lecturers in the ongoing ASUU strike is legitimate and in line with Labour Laws both nationally and internationally.

    “We want to thank our members for being resolute and committed to the struggle.

    “We equally appreciated the students and parents for their understanding; civil society organisations and other stakeholders for standing by the union in the fight for the revitalisation of public universities in the country,” the union said.

    Newsmen recalls that the KASU management had on April 28 explained that Kaduna State Government has nothing to do with its decision to pull out of the ongoing strike by ASUU.

    The management made the clarification while reacting to a report by some sections of the media that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai-led administration has coerced the university’s management into resuming academic activities.

    According to the management, the recent announcement on the resumption of academic activities is in line with the Academic Calendar that stipulates the continuation of lectures effective from May 9, 2022.

    ASUU began an industrial action in February to press home its demand for the implementation of its 2009 renegotiated agreement with the Federal Government.

  • NSA never accused El-Rufai of divulging classified information

    NSA never accused El-Rufai of divulging classified information

    Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) says the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, never accused Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State of divulging classified information.

    The Head, Strategic Communication, ONSA, Mr Zakari Usman, refuted the report in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that NSA’s statement during a news conference on Thursday was misrepresented by a section of the media.

    Usman said the NSA, while briefing newsmen at the end of the Security Council Meeting held on Thursday did not at any time criticise and accuse the governor as reported.

    According to him, the reports are verifiably false, sensational and misleading.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the NSA was not referring to Governor El-Rufa’i in his comment on the protection of sensitive operational information.

    “The NSA while responding to a question had observed that it portends a danger to security operations if indeed it was true that security agents are in the habit of revealing unauthorised sensitive operational details as alleged.

    Usman said that El-Rufa’i had been a consistent and exemplary partner to the security sector, saying it was illogical and uncharitable for anyone to suggest that the NSA would discredit him in that manner.

    “Therefore, this office wishes to reiterate the need to imbibe conflict sensitive reporting and for media and social media stakeholders to resist the instant gratification of disinformation.

    “The general public and particularly the media are advised to disregard these reports and access the complete video of the press briefing session for accurate information,” he said.