The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have commended Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna state for his pro-people policies and determination to ensure fair distribution of palliatives to the people of the state.

The Chairman of NLC, Kaduna state chapter, Ayuba Suleman, and his TUC counterpart, Abdullahi Alhassan Danfulani, who led other labour and trade union representatives, made the commendations during the flag off of Palliative Distribution in Dankande, Igabi local government area (LGA).

The event was organized to commence the first phase of the Kaduna state government palliative distribution of 50kg bags of rice to 210,000 vulnerable households across the 23 LGAs of Kaduna state.

Speaking at the event, the NLC Chairman appreciated the Sani administration for its commitment and inclusion of key stakeholders in the formulation of the Kaduna State Government Palliative Distribution Committee, describing it as an evidence of open governance system.

“We have all witnessed today that the palliatives are very much available. We have been with the KDSG Palliative Committee from the beginning.

“The recommendations we made regarding the modalities for distribution of the palliative have been adopted by the Kaduna State Government with our involvement, consent and understanding.

“We lauded Gov. Sani’s government for inclusion as key stakeholders such as Labour Groups, People Living With Disabilities, market women, JNI and CAN are all members of the Palliative Distribution Committee and even at the Local Government Distribution level, these critical stakeholders are also involved,” he said.

He pledged that the palliatives will get to the most vulnerable.

On his part, the TUC Chairman, Abdullahi Alhassan Danfulani, also applauded the governor for including all groups in the decision-making process, stating that Gov. Sani has workers and vulnerable groups at the forefront of key policies and programmes.

“We appreciate the governor for his commitment, because since the beginning of his administration, “he has carried us along, we have worked together closely.

“We also appreciate the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza  Balarabe, who is also the Chair of the Committee, for her diligence in carrying out the tedious work of making sure that logistics are in place for a successful rollout.

“On our part, we will make sure that our team members follow every distribution truck till they get to their targeted destinations,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, Gov. Sani said this is the first phase of the three-phase palliatives distribution plan, where 50kg bags of rice will be distributed to identified households.

The Governor added that the Police and the Department of State Service (DSS) are leading security arrangements to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of the palliatives.

He also called on the  people of the State to give their maximum support and cooperation to the Palliatives Distribution Committee to ensure a hitch-free exercise. 

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, on Tuesday solicited the support of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in ensuring adequate budgetary allocation to the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN).

The Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, said in a statement that the CDS made the request when he paid a courtesy call on the minister, Sen.

Musa said the request was aimed at aiding the military in the discharge of its constitutional mandates unhindered, as well as the completion of ongoing projects.

He also call on the minister to assist the armed forces to address the accommodation deficit in military barracks and bases by making allocation for that purpose in the budget.

The CDS assured the minister of the military’s commitment to rid the country of criminals and make Nigeria and Nigerians safer.

In his response, the minister appreciated and commended the armed forces for their pivotal role in stabilising the situations in different parts of the country bedeviled by insecurity in spite of some constraints.

Bagudu assured the CDS of the ministry’s readiness to support the armed forces, adding that the budget cycle must consider critical security challenges.

He also expressed confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s ability to surmount all the security challenges bedeviling the country. 

The National Commission for Nomadic Education (NCNE) has trained 150 nomadic youths and women across Anambra, Delta, Katsina, Osun, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on livestock production, hair dressing and fashion designing.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof.

The Secretary, represented by the Director, Extension Education and Skills Development, NCNE, Dr.

According to him, empowering youths and women is the means through which they are assisted to succeed in life .

He said the gesture will also give them  the opportunity to develop the ability they need to become role models who can influence their communities and earn a living for socio-economic and sustainable livelihoods development.

“Youths and women empowerment is of importance to both the nation and the

empowered. With youths and women empowerment, the future prosperity of the country is secured because these are the people that are future entrepreneurs of any nation.

“When they are empowered, through need based skills, the  society becomes a good place for all to live,” he said.

“They will assist in the economic activities of the society where they find themselves and in turn, both families and the entire nation benefit.

“The commission’s initiative of empowering youths and women through Vocational Education and Value Orientation can go a long way in reducing poverty percentage of many rural societies, restiveness, social vices such as cattle rustling, kidnapping, raping, rural banditry, piracy and incessant conflicts leading to wanton destruction of lives and properties.

“Empowerment with skills and acquisition training is basically to ensure poverty eradication, good education standard, job creation, good governance, security/crime reduction, national growth, technological development and employment, wealth creation and self-reliance.”

He therefore urged the participants to be more determined in ensuring that 3.5 million out-of-school nomadic children are enrolled in schools.

He further urged the Kaduna State Government and other States in the Country to provide adequate teachers and infrastructure for Nomadic Primary Schools as well as include the training of Nomadic Youths in their programmes.