YAR'ADUA'S ACHIEVEMENT IN KATSINA

Until he joined the presidential race late last year, not much was heard or known about Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the incumbent governor of Katsina State, and presidential flag-bearer of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).But a recent facility tour of the amenities in the state reveals that the former lecturer is indeed a silent achiever. His exploits in the provision of potable water, good health care delivery, education, are eloquent testimonies.Inspite of the tremendous achievements in the past eight years, an average indigene of the state is of the opinion that what the journalists saw during the February visit was only a tip of the iceberg. The stakeholders believe that a Yar’Adua presidency would transform the nation for the better, given his enviable record in the state.Whereas, the politician is being commended to have achieved a lot, and for also allegedly having an excess of N6 billion in the state coffers, there are those who are of the view that he needs to do more if his quest to succeed President Olusegun Obasanjo in office by May, is to be achieved.It is on record that the state was endemic with guinea worm, a water borne disease. In fact, guinea worm eradication was one of the topmost challenges of the politician when he assumed office in 1999. This perhaps was why the state government embarked on the expansion of the coverage area of water supply, as well as the supply of equipment and operational maintenance.Shedding more light on this, the commissioner in charge of water resources in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Daukabar explained that each of the policy thrust was divided into three categories, vis-urban, semi-urban and rural water supply sub-sectors.He explained that in an effort to increase the coverage area of the supply of water, expansion and rehabilitation works were carried out in the urban areas such as Katsina, Funtua, Daura, Malumfashi, Dustinma and Jibia, thus increasing their coverage to 65 percent, from its 45 per cent level of 1999.In the same vein, he said that 17 water schemes were rehabilitated and upgraded in the semi-urban areas while 11 new water works were constructed, thus increasing it to 40 per cent from its 22 per cent state in 1999. For the rural areas, he stated that coverage was increased to 60 per cent from the 30 percent level in 1999.A further survey of the water sector showed the erection of a 14 km of 33 kv dedicated high tension power line from the Katsina sub-station to Ajiwa treatment plant booster station in Katsina, and the extension of more than 1 km of 11 km dedicated power line from Funtua textiles to Mairuwa treatment plant. The commissioner said this feat was achieved in 2002.While noting that the World Bank and the Federal Government assisted in the construction of a number of water projects, he emphasised that the state government carried an inventory of rural water supply. Through this, he disclosed, that 714 malfunctioning hand pumps boreholes were rehabilitated, while 38 boreholes in collaboration with UNICEF, under the Guinea worm eradication programme, were drilled and installed with hand pumps.Yar’Adua’s exploits are not limited to the water sector. A peep into the transformation of the health care system is also marvellous.This is noticeable with good and regular water supply to the public hospitals, electricity back-up, functional medical equipment, adequate and well motivated staff, and the compliance of the people to his newly introduced community participation in the health sector. The repairs of dilapidated structures and construction of new hospitals are also good points of reference.How the unasuming politician achieved this feat remains a mystery to many, but the Permanent Secretary in the Katsina State Ministry of Health, Dr. Salisu Banye, gave an insight into the achievement.While conducting journalists round the newly acquired facilities in the state hospitals during a visit, Banye said that when Yar’Adua came on board in 1999, his administration selected seven out of the 18 existing ones as pilot hospitals, to ensure a community participation and involvement in the health sector. He added that community leaders were appointed as board of trustees for the hospitals.Till date, he said that “all the hospitals in Katsina State have been renovated and expanded, medical equipment worth over N450 million have been procured following needs assessment by end users.”He explained further that a total sum of N65 million was given as SEED money for DFR and approval for direct purchase of drugs from manufacturers, to ensure quality and price reduction, noting that drugs are sold at 25 per cent subsidy to patients.“All our hospitals are provided with a minimum of two standby electric generating sets, two boreholes with improved water supply and reticulation, from water board. We have also taken delivery of brand new ambulances.”Banye also informed that the state government has increased the staff strength at the hospitals, increased staff salaries, allowances and welfare packages. “This is not all, our staff now engage in regular training and retraining programmes, this is targetted at ensuring uptimal performance, and we are already seeing the results. About 206 Katsina State indigenous medical students are training in various universities across the country, under the sponsorship of the state government.”In the educational sector, Yar’Adua’s effort at improving the hitherto backwardness of the state academically has paid off. This he achieved by setting up a special intervention fund to build and equip more schools, improve teachers welfare and increase their salaries, the new educational policy also gives a number of incentives that make parents voluntarily release their children for western education.It was gathered that N500 million was released annually as special intervention to revamp the sector. This is part of Yar’Adua’s initiative to ensure a conducive learning environment, provide teaching materials, and make schools more friendly to the teachers, both at the primary and secondary school levels.The state chairman, Universial Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Shehu Imam sheds more light on this: “In 2004, the governor started by giving us N500 million yearly as special intervention for upgrading the primary schools in the state. I am proud of the teaching materials because it has boosted our morale.“We now provide our children with free teaching materials in order to dissuade them from buying books outside, this has helped us a lot and it also encouraged our children to want to learn.“The state government in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Education has also embarked on an annual census of schools and the pupils.”Similarly, Imam informed that the state government has upgraded its primary schools as part of efforts to provide a conducive learning environment for the pupils.The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Alhaji Danyaya Mashi, while conducting journalists round some of the 25 newly built secondary schools stated that “we took time to ensure they are well equipped with computers and other modern day teaching facilities.”The works ministry was the last point of call. The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ahmed Aminu Yar’Adua, eulogised the governor’s preference for quality project without any unnecessary or wasteful spending.He told journalists during the visit to the newly completed Katsina State secretariat, a large expanse of land accommodating all the ministries that facility managers in his ministry would ensure its regular maintenance.

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