Kudan: Striving for the Good of Our People -By Dauda Iliya Abba

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-rufai

The determination to make an enduring difference in the lives of our people brought me to the seat of the chairmanship of Kudan Local Government about a year ago. Kudan is one of the well-known local government areas in Kaduna State. First, because of its hardworking people who have made their marks in diverse fields of life and secondly because of its remarkable contributions to the overall economy of Kaduna State. This is a contribution that still needs to increase, alongside the human capital development of the area, which is part of the intervention we are set on achieving in steering the ship of the Kudan local government in the right direction.

Since assuming office, we have embarked on important projects to improve the well-being of our people, such as through the construction of a major drainage at Likoro; of 90 culverts across the ten wards of Kudan local government; speed-breakers at Doka, Kudan, Zabi, Maraba, Hunkuyi and Jaja; the drilling of boreholes at Garu; and renovations at the local government secretariat, Hunkuyi. These projects will uplift the face of our communities and enhance our environment.

In similar fashion, we have completed feeder roads at Doka to Sundu in Kano State, a box culvert at Unguwan Mu’azu Hunkuyi, a bridge at Mazara, rural electrification at Unguwan Yara Nasarawan Kudan and Maraba Sabon Gari Hunkuyi. We have also supplied transformers at Kada-Kada, Ma’aji Kudan, Guibi and Hunkuyi, while completing township road networks at Kauran Wali and providing streetlights across the local government.

Our administration has also supported ESD and works departments with motorcycles, provided ICT equipment to all departments in the local government, and donated free drugs to 10 PHC across the local government. We have equally maintained consistency in the payment of salaries to the district administration.

To safeguard the lives of our people, the local government administration has developed a security network, KUSCOMP, for effective security operations in the council area. The conservation of our environment is top on the agenda of my administration, and with that in mind, we have carried out a comprehensive audit of the communal forest in the Kudan area.

The day to day efficient running of the local government is as important to us as every other thing, if not more. Hence, to keep improving on governance, we have encouraged the deployment of ICT in the management of the local government finances, and ensured the regular preparation of monthly financial statements for the purpose of accountability, whilst carrying out the verification of acclaimed liabilities on on-going and completed projects, thereby saving the council of about N500,000,000 (five hundred million naira).

In the same vein, we have carried out staff verification exercises that have streamlined the financial burden of the local government, re-invigorated staff dedication to work, efficiency and punctuality. Moreover, our partnership with the Millennium for Development and with state government ministries and establishments has begun to yield results in the development process.

Clearly, all these projects would positively change the lives of the masses of our people who are the ones behind the conceptualisation of the local government’s programmes and ideals. Projects that enhance the transportation of farm produce, goods and services; those pertaining to the health of the people, education and environment, continue to be given the priority attention they deserve as the enablers of growth, development and advancement of our people.

Interestingly, these project are not randomly chosen, but have been arrived at through the democratic spirit and process alluded to above. To arrive at specific projects, we introduced the participatory budgeting system, through which every ward in the local government area points out to the most salient projects they require. All the identified projects are then deliberated upon at town hall meetings where the people get to speak on the challenges envisaged around each project, before a final list of these projects are then drawn up towards implementation.

On the overall, we believe it is imperative for us to continue the good work that we have started. Thus, we are not only stepping up ongoing projects including the construction of drainages at Hunkuyi, Likoro, Culverts at Sabon Gari Hunkuyi, road network at Kyaudai, and renovation of 10 primary health centres, in all 10 electoral wards of the council, but we are determined to continue with the provision of additional street lights at Tashan Sani, Sabi, Kauran Wali North and South and Garu. And also the drilling of a borehole at Nasarawan Kudan. Despite the limited nature of resources available to our administration, we would keep striving for the best for our people, and working towards the betterment of Kudan.

Dauda Iliya Abba is IMC Chairman Kudan Local Government Area, Kaduna State.