ILORIN, SEPTEMBER 5, 2016 – Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has called for the removal of primary school teachers’ salaries from local government allocations in order to ease funding challenges at the local council level.The governor made the call on Sunday in Ilorin during an interface with Muslim Scholars, tagged: “State of the State in Ilorin.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that “State of the State” will be a regular interactive session between the state government and groups such as faith leaders, women and youth groups.
According to Ahmed, primary education was too important to be left at the mercy of local government areas, who are becoming increasingly incapacitated to meet the challenges of modern governance.
“Most of them lack the financial requirements of primary education, especially primary school teachers,” he said.
Ahmed also stressed the need for urgent review of national laws, which inhibit state governments from being major players in Telecommunications, Energy, Aviation, exploitation of mineral resources.
This, the governor said, would enable states to be more economically viable and financially self-sustaining.
He, therefore, called for the removal of these sectors from the exclusive list to allow state governments to venture into expanding their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
On infrastructure development of the state, the governor said the Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund (InfraFund Kwara) has been increased from N300 million monthly to N500 million.
“With the increase of the funds, the state government is now better placed to jump start vital projects such as the Garin Alimi underpass and extension of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Road.
The governor said two additional campuses of the State University would be established in Ilesha-Baruba and Osi, Kwara North and Kwara South senatorial districts respectively.
Ahmed added that with the procurement of two Asphalt Plants by the state government, road maintenance across the state will now be cheaper and executed with vigor.
Responding, one of the Ulamas, Dr Abubakar Aligan called on the state government to urgently stem the activities of misguided Muslim fundamentalists in the state to prevent an emergence of terrorism.
“These are people wanted outside the country. Why should we allow them operate freely in our state? The scholar queried.
The forum provided the Muslim scholars, youth and women opportunities to share their views on issues affecting the State with the governor.
