From Shuaibu Zubair Tatu, Birnin Kebbi
As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, has called on Nigerians to keep hope alive, remain united and continue to pray for the country’s leaders at all levels to deliver on their responsibilities and advance the nation’s development.
The Governor, in a message congratulating the people of Kebbi State and Nigerians on the historic occasion, described Independence Day as a moment of national pride, sober reflection and renewed hope for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
He said: “Independence Anniversary is a moment of pride, reflection and renewed hope for our great nation.
“Today, we honour our founding fathers whose sacrifices gave birth to Nigeria, while celebrating the resilience of our people, particularly the people of Kebbi State, who continue to uphold peace, productivity and the values that bind us together.”
Governor Idris said his administration had deliberately embraced people-centred governance, with policies and programmes designed to directly improve the welfare and living conditions of citizens.
He noted that Kebbi State now pays a minimum wage of N75,000, above the Federal Government benchmark, while maintaining regular payment of salaries and pensions.
According to him, the administration has also cleared more than N10 billion in gratuities, death benefits and arrears, while N2.11 billion was recently released to settle entitlements involving 772 retirees and bereaved families across the state.
On education, the Governor said his administration had constructed, renovated and furnished more than 2,000 schools, recruited 2,000 professional teachers, ended casualisation in the teaching profession and provided thousands of modern classroom furniture.
He added that the government had maintained industrial harmony by recognising workers as critical partners in the development of the state, while recently approving responsibility allowance for primary school teachers to further boost their morale and sense of belonging.
Governor Idris described healthcare as another major pillar of his administration, saying 22 general hospitals, 179 primary healthcare centres and 63 dispensaries had been revitalised, while more than 2,200 health workers were recruited to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
