El-Rufa’i: People no longer first?

By Lawal Adamu Usman

 

SIR: During the 2015 and 2019 general elections, the Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i, was famous for his campaigns slogan – “Putting the people first’.

After six years in office, the question on the lips of many Kaduna State people is whether El-Rufai can still claim to have put Kaduna people first. In my estimation, he has derailed from that campaign mantra. His actions are contrary to all that he promised.

A people-first-government will always value the welfare and well-being of its citizens, especially women and children. I am here referring to paying careful attention to their needs and vulnerabilities. No doubt, development is good for the upliftment of the socio-economic well-being of the general public; it would inevitably attract investors and add prestige to the state. However, while that is a-given, you cannot achieve it by trampling on human beings like they do not matter.

The recent ‘unfair’ increase in school fees by the El-Rufa’i administration (even though there are contradictory statements from the same government with some section of the administration denying the hike), is certainly coming at a most inauspicious time. It shows that the administration does not care about its citizens, most especially the commoners, the poor and the most vulnerable. The measure has only further exacerbated the hardship being suffered across the federation of which Kaduna State has borne a huge chunk of its share.

Read Also: El-Rufai: ransom payment hasn’t stopped kidnapping

 

With such untimely increase in tuition fees, most students will have no option but to drop out of school while some of our female students in particular could be pushed into anti-social acts. In the end, it can only add to the burden of insecurity currently ravaging the state. The earlier the government rescinds this outrageous decision, the better for us and our children.

Moreover, given the negative effects of the on-going urban renewal policy which has affected many small businesses in the state, the expectation is that the state government will move aggressively to create an enabling environment for the displaced business owners to get back their means of livelihood. This can be done in collaboration with the banks.

The banks can be made to grant soft loans to small and medium scale entrepreneurs who will be closely monitored by the administration against defaults 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.

• Lawal Adamu Usman,

Kaduna.

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