It is evident that during 2015 and 2019 general elections, Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna state was famous in his campaigns tagged “putting the people first”. He is now six years in the power; the question that remains on the lips of many Kaduna state people is whether the governor has put Kaduna people first. To the best of my knowledge, he has derailed from that campaign mantra. His actions are a resounding testimony to what I said.
A people-first-government will always value the welfare and well being of citizens, especially women and children. Such feat is achieved through dedicated service, carefully designed to protect the citizenry. Development is good for the socio-economic well-being of the general public which will attract investors and add prestige to the state, that is a given, but you cannot achieve it by trampling on human beings like they are flies.
The recent ‘unfair’ increment of school fees by the El-Rufa’i administration (even though there seems to be contradicting statements from the same government with some section of the administration denying the hike), it is evident that this administration does not care about its citizens, most especially the commoners, the poor and vulnerable. His current action further exacerbates the hardship Kaduna state citizens are forced to swallow which is being felt almost all over the country.
With such untimely increment of tuition fees, most students will have no option but to drop out of school while to some female students, such action could push them to prostitution (God forbid) or engage in terrible acts with wayward lecturers for them to be able to meet up with such outrageous demand for fees by the government. It will also add the burden of insecurity in the state.
The earlier the government rescinds this outrageous decision, the better for us and our children. And to cushion the negative effects of the urban renewal policy, which is believed to have affected many small businesses, the government may consider employing a strategy of creating an enabling environment for the displaced business owners to have a means of livelihood. This can be done through collaborating with banks. The banks can grant loans to small and medium scale entrepreneurs who will be closely monitored by the administration against defaulters and also provide student loans for poor children to be able to put themselves through school while they engage in the crafts and other menial jobs they are good at. The Hausa say “Yau da gobe sai Allah.”
Lawal Adamu Usman (Mr LA)
